Pahrump Valley High School is celebrating the remarkable achievements of two of its seniors, Wolfe Beckley and Sasha Strain, who have been named Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. This prestigious recognition places them among the top 1% of high school seniors nationwide, highlighting their exceptional academic abilities and dedication to personal growth.
The National Merit Scholarship Program, which has honored students for their academic excellence since 1955, is a highly competitive academic competition. Semifinalists are selected based on their scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which identifies students with outstanding academic potential.
To advance to the Finalist stage, Wolfe and Sasha must submit detailed scholarship applications that include their academic records, extracurricular achievements, leadership qualities, and community involvement. Additionally, they will need to submit an essay and earn scores on the SAT® or ACT® that confirm their earlier performance.
“We are incredibly proud of Wolfe and Sasha for their remarkable accomplishments,” said Pahrump Valley High School Principal Desiree Veloz. “Their dedication to academic excellence and their commitment to personal growth exemplify the spirit of our school community. We wish them the best as they continue in the competition. I am certain that this is just the beginning for both of them and their journeys of excellence.”
The National Merit Scholarship Program offers three types of scholarships: National Merit $2500 Scholarships, corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards, and college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards. The winners of these scholarships will be announced in the spring of 2025.
Pahrump Valley High School and the Nye County School District extend their congratulations to Wolfe and Sasha on this outstanding achievement and look forward to following their continued success in the competition and beyond.