Twenty-one Punahou seniors were among 65 Hawai‘i high school seniors selected as 2021 National Merit Semifinalists in honor of their outstanding academic ability and potential for collegiate success. Their high-ranking qualifying test scores put them among the top 1% of high school seniors nationwide. As semifinalists, students may apply to become a finalist in the program, with a chance to earn a scholarship.
“I want to sincerely congratulate you,” said Punahou President Mike Latham ’86, speaking to the National Merit Scholarship semifinalists via video during a Webex gathering. “It’s a terrific opportunity for you, and we’re very, very proud of you … I really want to encourage you to take this as an important step, but see it really as a first step. The key for you now is to build on this achievement and to go forward.”
Nationwide, approximately 16,000 semifinalists were selected in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, with an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring.
Congratulations the 2021 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists: Alexandra Buntin-Nakamura (not pictured), Samantha Chapman, Michael Chen, Harris Chin, Braden Hallstrom, Pascal He, Kara Hirano, Micah Hiu, Matthew Hollinger, Yang Hu, Jonah Johnson, Shawn Jun, Devin Korybski, Liam Lynch, Erin Nishi, Sejin Park, Milica Prisic Smagghe, Lauren Richards, Victoria Takai, Cosette Wu and Andrew Yu.
Samantha Chapman 
Michael Chen 
Harris Chin 
Braden Hallstrom 
Pascal He 
Kara Hirano 
Micah Hiu 
Matthew Hollinger 
Yang Hu 
Jonah Johnson 
Shawn Jun 
Devin Korybski 
Liam Lynch 
Erin Nishi 
Sejin Park 
Milica Prisic Smagghe 
Lauren Richards 
Victoria Takai 
Cosette Wu 
Andrew Yu