Richland senior named National Merit Scholar
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Richland High School senior Boyi Chen has been named a 2025 National Merit Scholar and collected one of the 2,500 competitive scholarships available throughout the country.
'I am incredibly honored and grateful to receive this scholarship,' Chen said in a statement. 'This support will be invaluable as I pursue my career goals in the medical field.'
The National Merit Scholarship program is an annual academic contest that recognizes talented high school students across the nation.
Students qualify for the competition by completing the PSAT or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and those who score highest move on to the semifinalist round, representing the top 1% of high school seniors in the country.
Chen was a semifinalist in 2024, but did not advance.
Students move on to the finals by submitting a detailed scholarship application, writing a compelling essay, maintaining good academic records, and providing an SAT or ACT score that confirms the PSAT or NMSQT results.
Because Chen was accepted as a scholar this year, he earned a $2,500 scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Foundation.
Winners are chosen by a panel of college admissions officers and high school counselors who examine each application.
'We are incredibly proud to celebrate Boyi's outstanding accomplishment in being named a National Merit Scholar and receiving this significant scholarship,' Richland High School Principal Timothy Regan said in a release. 'This award is a direct reflection of Boyi's remarkable intellect, relentless hard work, and the unwavering support of our dedicated faculty and staff.'
Regan added that Chen's success serves as inspiration for everyone at Richland, and they are 'excited to see the incredible impact' that will have on his future endeavors.
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