Nine Las Cruces Students and One Alamogordo Senior Named National Merit Semifinalists for 2025–2026

Nine students from Las Cruces Public Schools and one senior from Alamogordo High School have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists for the 2025–2026 academic year, placing them among the top academic performers in the nation.

Las Cruces Public Schools Honorees

According to Las Cruces Public Schools, the following students earned semifinalist status:

• Arrowhead Park Early College High School: Samuel Eorio, Jack Ritzman, William Waltermire

• Centennial High School: Evan Richards, Victoria Sohn

• Las Cruces High School: Anelise M. Elmquist, Rishi Koodali

• Organ Mountain High School: Mason Gardner, Caleb Williams A

These students now advance to the finalist stage, where they will compete for one of 6,930 National Merit Scholarships totaling nearly $26 million to be awarded in spring 2026.

Alamogordo High School Honoree

From Alamogordo, Jayson Coleman, a senior at Alamogordo High School, was named a semifinalist earlier this month. Coleman’s achievement continues a strong academic tradition at AHS, where students have consistently earned recognition for excellence in STEM, humanities, and leadership. Coleman joins fellow seniors Walter Allen Snyder and Eva Westover, who were also recognized earlier this year for academic distinction.

 About the Program

The National Merit Scholarship Program, now in its 71st year, honors students who score among the highest in their state on the PSAT/NMSQT. Semifinalists represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors and must meet rigorous academic and extracurricular standards to advance.

Finalists will be announced in February 2026, and scholarship winners will be revealed between April and July.

These recognitions reflect the strength of Southern New Mexico’s academic programs and the dedication of educators across Las Cruces and Alamogordo.

Sources:

Las Cruces Public Schools announcement

National Merit Scholarship Corporation

2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.org

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