SAN ANGELO, TX - San Angelo ISD and Central High School recognized senior Brady Stewart for being named a National Merit Semifinalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
According to San Angelo ISD, Brady is one of 16,000 national high school senior semi-finalists who have the opportunity to compete for 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million during the upcoming spring.
“Brady is a wonderful example of a student leader,” said Central High School Principal Jill Ross. “He works hard in all areas – from the tennis court to the gymnastics gym to the classroom. Beyond his academics and athletics, he also makes a positive impact on his peers through his leadership in the Bobcat Boost club, showing that he cares just as much about supporting others as he does about his own success.”
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semi-finalists must fulfill requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95% of the semi-finalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
“When Mrs. Ross told my family and me that I had been officially named a Semifinalist, I was both shocked and excited about the opportunities this designation opens for me,” Brady said. “For me, this recognition is a reassurance of all the hard work I’ve put in throughout high school. While a test score doesn’t define everything I’ve accomplished, it does show that I am capable of success and making an impact in whatever I choose to do.”
Brady credits several teachers, including Ms. Folks (AP Psychology), Mrs. McKillip (AP English 3), and Mrs. Rich-Wells (AP Government), for their guidance and support, noting that their letters of recommendation have been invaluable as he applies to college.
He also points to his coaches — Coach Arrott, Coach Abilez, and Coach Weaver — for keeping him grounded and teaching him the value of hard work throughout high school. Brady said the recognition would not be possible without the support of his family and friends, who continually encourage him to grow not only as a student and athlete but also as a person.
"San Angelo ISD extends a heartfelt congratulations to Brady Stewart on this honor and wishes him luck as he moves forward through the National Merit Scholar process," information from the school district states. "We thank our SAISD educators who have helped him along his educational journey and prepare our students to be future-ready, whatever that future may be."
Over 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state's percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist's academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test.
From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2026. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 830 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 150 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor's employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 150 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2026 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join approximately 389,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
About the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)
NMSC, a non-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 320 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goal of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
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