Seven students from the Smithtown Central School District have been named finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them among the top high school scholars in the country.
The finalists include Smithtown High School West students Jacob Bergman and Ishaanth Reddy Guduru, along with Smithtown High School East students Madeline McCullough, Shaayan Alam, Prateek Chilakamarthy, Saquib Syed and Arnav Jain.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a nationwide academic competition that awards more than 6,900 scholarships each year, with a combined value of nearly $26 million. Finalists are selected based on their academic achievements, skills and potential for success in college.
Smithtown High School East Principal Paul McNeil praised the accomplishments of the five East students.
“We are incredibly proud of our National Merit Finalists at High School East,” McNeil said. “These five students represent the very best of what happens when you combine an exceptional work ethic with a rigorous academic schedule.”
Smithtown High School West Principal William Holl also recognized the achievements of the two West finalists, noting their contributions both academically and within the school community.
“The High School West community is beyond proud to celebrate Jacob and Ishaanth for being named National Merit Finalists,” Holl said. “This prestigious honor puts them among the top tier of students in the country, but beyond the test scores and accolades, we know them as individuals with exceptional character who have made an immensely positive impact on our school.”
Students qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program by maintaining a strong academic record throughout high school and by performing well on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), typically taken during their junior year. The exam serves as an initial screening for more than 1.3 million students who enter the competition each year.
Finalists will now compete for National Merit Scholarships that will be awarded later this year.