A member of the senior class at The Webb School, Cooper Medling, has been named a National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalist. This year is the 68th year of the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Cooper Medling, from the town of Milton, just east of Murfreesboro, is among the top 1 percent of 2023-2024 U.S. high school seniors to achieve the semifinalist distinction. A total of 16,000 semifinalists were named for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. He is eligible to continue in the competition and to vie for 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $28 million that will be offered next spring.
“This is a great honor for Cooper and very well-deserved. He is not only a scholar, but also further exemplifying our vision for Webb students by becoming a leader. He serves the student body and faculty as the chair of our student-run honor system. Being a National Merit Semifinalist will open many doors and significant scholarship dollars for him in the college admissions process,” said Head of School Ken Cheeseman.
High school juniors are automatically entered into the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). More than 90 percent of the selected semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
To become a finalist, semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and earn SAT scores that confirm their previous test performances. Semifinalists must also submit an essay and detailed application that demonstrates participation and leadership in their schools and communities.
“I am honored to be recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist. It's gratifying to see hard work pay off,” said Medling. “I'd like to thank the College Counseling Department for their guidance and support throughout this process and for their continued support as I move to the next stage.”
While at Webb, Medling has served on Student Council the past four years and on the Honor Council the last two years. His fellow Honor Council members elected him as president of the Honor Council this year. Amongst his many academic awards, last year he was awarded The Webb’s Yale Book Award for displaying excellence in scholarship and high character. Additionally, Medling has participated in cross country and lacrosse since eighth grade. He was selected mid-state all-region in lacrosse the past two seasons, and he was a member of three all-region relay teams during his last two track seasons. He also organized school service projects as a member of the student council and volunteered at the local Meals on Wheels for the last two summers.