Fifteen Diamond Bar High seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.

These high achieving students represent the top 1% in the country.

Congratulations to the following students:

Diamond Bar High: Emma Fu, Akash George, Brian Hsu, Irene Jin, Jaime Jin, Jason Kim, Han Lee, Nathan C. Lin, Ryan Lui, Erin Miyahara, Julienne Nguyen, Serena Shih. Steven Tjandra. Jaden Zhang, and Eileen Zhu.

The nationwide pool of approximately 16,000 semifinalists are the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

All semifinalists have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards worth more than $30 million to be awarded next spring.

Students entered the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT Test as juniors which served as the initial screen of program entrants.

To move onto the finalist round, students are judged based on a detailed scholarship application covering their academic record, leadership abilities, employment, participation in school and community activities, and honors and awards received.

Students must also write an essay and be recommended by a high school official.