30 Carroll ISD Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

Carroll ISD is proud to announce that 30 members of the Class of 2027 have been named Semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them among the nation’s most academically accomplished high school seniors.

This year’s Carroll ISD National Merit Semifinalists are:

Anjali Asrani, Kavya Athipatla, Tanay Bakshi, Rehaan Chamakura, Abigail Clem, Colten Clyburn, Austin Ganiear, Owen Glaves, Grady Hall, Mia Jose, Kriti Kadiyala, Matthew Langston, Kevin Lee, Jeffrey Liu, Sayesha Malhotra, Rukmini Mukkamalla, Ibraheem Mushtaq, Blake Nguyen, Jayden Olympia, Joshua Olympia, Shaadana Rajesh, Angela Rao, Laila Rhima, Noah Subhash, Max Tessnow, Joseph Thomas, Nethra Tummalapalli, Aadi Upadhyayula, Anushka Velala, and Athena Wen.

More than 1.3 million students entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, commonly known as the PSAT/NMSQT. From that nationwide pool, just over 16,000 students were selected as Semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors.

Semifinalists are selected from among the highest-scoring entrants in each state. To advance to the Finalist level, students must submit a detailed scholarship application, demonstrate a consistently strong academic record, write an essay, receive the endorsement and recommendation of a school official, and earn an SAT or ACT score that confirms their qualifying PSAT/NMSQT performance.

Finalists will then compete for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million, which will be awarded in spring 2027.

With 30 Semifinalists in a district serving approximately 8,000 students, Carroll ISD continues to have one of the highest per-capita concentrations of National Merit honorees among public school districts in Texas.

“Having 30 National Merit Semifinalists at Carroll Senior High School is an incredible honor, and it is one we do not take lightly. These students have distinguished themselves through their hard work, determination, and commitment to excellence," said Carroll Senior High School Principal Shatina Lewis. "It is such a privilege to celebrate these 30 outstanding Dragons. I know their families are incredibly proud, and I am honored to serve as their principal and celebrate this well-deserved recognition alongside them."

Although National Merit recognition is earned during high school, the achievement reflects years of learning and support across the district. Foundational skills are built in Carroll’s elementary classrooms, strengthened through intermediate and middle school, and refined through rigorous high school coursework. Teachers, counselors, administrators, staff members, and families all play an important role in helping students develop the knowledge, confidence, and determination needed to reach this level.

Carroll ISD congratulates these 30 outstanding Dragons and celebrates the educators and families who have encouraged them throughout their academic journeys.

“This remarkable achievement reflects the strength of an educational foundation built across every Carroll ISD campus,” said Board President Cam Bryan. “From their earliest years in our classrooms through the rigorous coursework they pursue in high school, these students have been challenged, encouraged, and supported by exceptional educators and families. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I congratulate these 30 outstanding scholars for representing the very best of Carroll ISD and continuing our proud tradition of academic excellence.”