Six Stillwater Seniors Named as National Merit Semifinalists


Left to Right: Zahmiria Johnson, Nicco Wang, Tanner Thomas, Daniel Tikalsky, Omar Abouzhar, and Edie Will

Most Stillwater National Merit Scholars since 2011

Media Release

Stillwater High School is pleased to announced that six seniors have been named as Semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. This is the most National Merit Scholars Stillwater has had since 2011.

Zahmiria Johnson, Nicco Wang, Tanner Thomas, Daniel Tikalsky, Omar Abouzhar, and Edie Will were chosen from over 1.5 million entrants, are among the 16,000 nationwide semifinalists who will continue on to compete for National Merit Scholarships.

Additionally, four former Pioneers that now attend the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics were named as semifinalists – Matt Carroll, Helen Dai, Sophia Horner, and Cindy Li.

Selection of National Merit Semifinalists is determined by student performance on the PSAT, which is taken at the beginning of a student’s junior year.

“This is an amazing, hard working, talented group of Pioneers,” and Stillwater High School Principal Uwe Gordon, “and while National Merit is a wonderful honor, they are not done yet. Stay tuned…”

From the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) website:

“The mission of NMSC is to recognize and honor the academically talented students of the United States. NMSC accomplishes its mission by conducting nationwide academic scholarship programs. The enduring goals of NMSC’s scholarship programs are:

  • To promote a wider and deeper respect for learning in general and for exceptionally talented individuals in particular
  • To shine a spotlight on brilliant students and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence at all levels of education
  • To stimulate increased support from individuals and organizations that wish to sponsor scholarships for outstanding scholastic talent”