Harrison Preparatory (HP) senior Gabriel Williams has been named a semifinalist for a National Merit Scholarship. Out of more than one million entrants across the country, only 16,000 students have been selected as semifinalists.  

 The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition among high school students for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships that began in 1955. Scholarships awarded through National Merit Scholarship programs are regarded as some of the highest academic honors attainable by U.S. high school students.   

Gabriel was required to have a qualifying PSAT score to become a semifinalist. The next step in the process will be submitting his SAT score, as well as submitting an essay and letter of recommendation.   

“I wasn’t particularly stressed about taking the PSATs,” Gabriel said. “That was a really good test day for me, and I did better than I was expecting.”  

Though Gabriel’s favorite academic subject is math, he hopes that becoming a finalist for the merit scholarship will help him pursue his dream of attending a local university and becoming a choir teacher.   

“I enjoy singing and taking on leadership roles in the HP choir,” Gabriel said. “I knew I wanted to go to school for music education and become a choir teacher after I was able to conduct one of our songs last year. It felt so fulfilling, and I decided in that moment that it was the career that I wanted to pursue.”   

Gabriel’s top choices for college are the University of Puget Sound, Western Washington University and Central Washington University. He is eager to move forward in the National Merit Scholarship process, and his fellow Pumas are wishing him luck as he prepares to become a finalist.