TCAPS Announces Two National Merit Finalists
Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) is pleased to announce two students have been named finalists 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 were among 16,000 students named as 2025 National Merit Semifinalists. As finalists, students have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships.
“Being recognized as a National Merit Scholar finalist is a prestigious honor and we are incredibly proud of these students and their academic achievement,” 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.