The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the names of the semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Thirteen Blake seniors have earned semifinalist designation. These academically talented high school seniors now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,590 National Merit Scholarships worth over $33 million that will be offered next spring. 

Congratulations to Blake's semifinalists:

Ayan Akbar
Emily Alexander
Sophia Alexander
Andres Amador Fitzgerald
Rhea Balachandran
Sean Bizily
Teddy Bower
Jeffrey Chen
Maren Farazi
Noah Greenstein-Sheppard
Madeleine Hou
Jack Ulland
Kaining Zhang

Blake also congratulates 14 members of its senior class who have been commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Although commended students do not continue in the competition for National Merit scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses. Blake’s commended students are:

Shruti Balachander
Hamza Banatwala
Graham Bennett
Ani Bhardwaj
Ben Bredesen
Claire Cao
Raiden Chen
Piper Fuhr
Daniel Hasday Erbsen
Krisha Pillai
Samson Skibell
Cameron Smith
Clara Stamm
Sulayman Syed