Notre Dame Regional High School is proud to announce that senior Nicholas Dial has been named a Semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The National Merit Scholarship Program, now in its 71st year, is one of the nation’s most prestigious academic competitions. More than 1.3 million juniors from over 20,000 high schools entered the program by taking the 2024 PSAT/NMSQT, with only the highest-scoring students in each state advancing to Semifinalist standing. Nicholas is among this distinguished group, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.

As a Semifinalist, Nicholas will now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for nearly 7,000 National Merit Scholarships worth a combined $26 million, to be awarded in the spring of 2026. To advance to Finalist status, he must submit a detailed scholarship application including academic record, extracurricular activities, leadership, honors, and an essay. About 95 percent of Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists, and approximately half of those will earn the Merit Scholar title.

Since its founding in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation has recognized the nation’s top academic achievers, with scholarships funded through NMSC, corporations, colleges, and universities.

Notre Dame congratulates Nicholas on this remarkable achievement and celebrates his commitment to academic excellence.