National Merit Semifinalists
5 Cooper Students Honored in National Merit Scholarship Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2026
September 9, 2026
The John Cooper School Students Receive National Recognition
Five Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Five Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS - The John Cooper School is proud to recognize five seniors who have been named Semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit® Scholarship Program.
Photo attached (left to right): 2027 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Britt Williams-Bunts '27, Luke Milan '27, Polina Terentyeva '27, Helena Linsenmeier '27, and Rohan Kansal '27.
The Cooper students are among more than 16,000 academically talented high school seniors nationwide selected as Semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These students now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million that will be awarded in spring 2027.
"We are incredibly proud to celebrate Rohan, Lena, Luke, Polina, and Britt for earning this distinguished national recognition," said Dr. Stephen Popp, Head of School at The John Cooper School. "Their achievement reflects their intellectual curiosity, dedication, and willingness to challenge themselves. They embody Cooper's journey 'From Curiosity to Wisdom,' and we are excited to see where their talents and interests take them next."
The John Cooper School's mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Jessica Holloway, Director of Marketing Communication | The John Cooper School, jholloway@johncooper.org or 281.367.0900 ext. 2406
Background on the National Merit Scholarship Program
More than 1.2 million juniors from approximately 20,000 high schools entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as the initial screening for program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
To advance to the Finalist level, Semifinalists and their high school officials must submit a detailed scholarship application that includes information about the student's academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards. Semifinalists must also meet additional academic and program requirements. More than 15,000 Semifinalists are expected to advance to Finalist standing.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in spring 2027: 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships, approximately 700 corporate-sponsored scholarships, and about 3,500 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards. Winners will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July 2027.
The John Cooper School
From Curiosity to Wisdom TM
The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. Our mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
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