Camden Catholic High School of Cherry Hill has announced that senior Kuyill Ponnappan is a National Merit Scholarship finalist.
National finalists represent the top 1% of U.S. students who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Ponnappan was selected from 15,000 students across the country, and will be a candidate for merit scholarships to be announced in March.
More than 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT test in October of 2024. Last April, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) sent a list of 50,000 high scorers to schools to identify any errors or changes in eligibility.
In September, 16,000 students were notified that they qualified as semifinalists. Of those, 6,930 students will earn either a $2,500 national scholarship, a corporate scholarship or a college-sponsored award. The corporate sponsored scholarships range from one-time payments of between $2,500 and $10,000 and yearly awards between $1,000 and $10,000. The college scholarships range from $500 and $2,000 stipends each year.
In March, 660 students will get special scholarships, but will not be considered winners. The winners will be announced in April, May, June and July.
Ponnappan is involved in student activities ranging from the performing arts to creative writing club and is president of the National Honor Society. Camden Catholic principal Heather Crisci noted her in a press release the school’s pride in Ponnappan.
“We are very proud of Kuyill and this outstanding achievement,” Crisci said. “This accomplishment is a testament to her hard work and academic dedication over her four years at Camden Catholic High School.”
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a nonprofit that was established in 1955 to conduct the annual scholarship program. Awards are underwritten by the corporation with its own funds and by about 300 business organizations, higher-education institutions and individual donors.
Merit scholars are selected on the basis of their skills; accomplishments; and potential for success in college, without regard for gender; race; ethnic origin; or religious preference.
About 830 corporate-sponsored scholarships will go to approximately 150 businesses and organizations for finalists who meet specified criteria, such as children of a grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor 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.
