A senior at Pierre T.F. Riggs High School is one of only 41 students from South Dakota who have been selected as a semifinalist for the National Merit® Scholarship Program. Campbell Cronin is one of 16,000 students nationwide that move on to compete for National Merit Scholarships that are awarded to individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. To make it to the final round, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application with information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Approximately 6,870 scholarships worth almost $26 million will be awarded in the spring (2025). Winners will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 382,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 770 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 130 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 150 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.