VEVAY, IN – September 10, 2025 – Switzerland County High School is exceptionally proud to announce that senior John Sweeney has been named a Semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. This prestigious distinction places him among an elite group of students, representing less than one percent of all high school seniors across the United States.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a renowned academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. John earned this honor based on his outstanding performance on the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Each year, over 1.3 million juniors from approximately 21,000 high schools enter the program. This year, only about 16,000 of those entrants qualified as Semifinalists, a testament to their exceptional academic promise.
As a Semifinalist, John now has the opportunity to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. To become a Finalist, he must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes information about his academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. He must also have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and write an essay.
Finalists will be announced in February, and they will compete for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.
The entire Switzerland County School Corporation extends its warmest congratulations to John and his family on this academic accomplishment. We wish him the very best as he advances in this distinguished competition.