TCAPS Announce Three National Merit Semifinalists
Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) is pleased to announce three students named as semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors reach this level of academic achievement.
West Senior High School students Madeline Bildeaux, Jackson Hochstetler, and Leo Swager were among 16,000 students named as 2025 National Merit Semifinalists. As semifinalists, students have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships.
Six additional TCAPS students were also named as National Merit Commended Scholars. The list includes Central High School students Danielle Finch, Finn Robinson, and Anna Rupard and West Senior High School students Jalee Dunklow, Morgan Jones-Baldwin, and Ella Laureto.
“Being recognized by the National Merit Scholar program is a prestigious honor and we are incredibly proud of the academic achievements of these students,” said Dr. John VanWagoner, Superintendent of Traverse City Area Public Schools. “We also acknowledge all TCAPS K-12 staff for their ongoing dedication to every student's success and academic journey.”
About 1.3 million juniors entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 PSAT/NMSQT, which serves as the initial screen of program entrants.