Cinco Ranch High School Students Shine as National Merit Semifinalists
Academic pride is soaring at Cinco Ranch High School, where 24 seniors have earned the distinguished title of 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. The honor places these students among the top academic achievers nationwide and reflects the strength of Katy ISD’s educational community.
The National Merit Scholarship Program, established in 1955 by the not-for-profit National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), recognizes students who achieve top scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Each year, more than 1.3 million juniors enter the competition, with fewer than one percent advancing to Semifinalist status.
“These remarkable students embody the hard work and dedication of our Katy ISD students,” Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership & Support Emily Craig said. “This accomplishment reflects their commitment to academic excellence and the unwavering commitment of their families, teachers and school communities.”
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Cinco Ranch High School’s 2026 National Merit Semifinalists are: Andrew Xia, Reed Whisenant, Alexander Park, Nathan Olivier, Ivan La, Alyssa Jiang, Elyssa Hung, Ryan Gover, Lucille Ebben, George Rhoades, Enze Yu, Sumanth Sivakumar, Rikin Singhvi, Jay Sahni, Emma Chung, Muhammad Daniyal Salman, Ian Kim, Riya Sharma, Aimee Xia, Johan Jacob, Grace Dong, Ian Choi, Christian Hough, and Kyle Nguyen.
To progress to the Finalist level, students must complete a detailed application outlining academic records, leadership experience, honors, and community involvement. Finalists will compete for more than 6,000 scholarships totaling nearly $26 million.
Katy ISD hosted a district-wide ceremony to honor all semifinalists, recognizing not only their academic success but also the dedication of the families, educators, and mentors who helped them reach this milestone.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
