Bolivar, Mo – Bolivar High School senior Micah Thomas has been named a Semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing him among the top high school students nationwide recognized for outstanding academic achievement.
More than 1.3 million juniors from over 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Only the highest-scoring entrants in each state were named Semifinalists—representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.
“This award is an amazing blessing,” said Thomas. “It allows me to consider colleges I never would have looked into before.”
Bolivar High School Principal Jason Blair expressed his pride in Thomas’s accomplishment, saying, “Micah is an exceptional student whose hard work and commitment to learning have set him apart. This recognition is a testament to his character, dedication, and the support of his family, teachers, and peers.”
Dr. Michael Methvin, Bolivar R-1 School District Superintendent, added, “We are incredibly proud of Micah’s achievement. His recognition as a National Merit Semifinalist is not just an individual honor but a celebration for our entire community. It shows what is possible when students are encouraged to pursue excellence.”
As a Semifinalist, Thomas will now submit a detailed scholarship application that includes information about his academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership roles, employment, and honors received. He must also write an essay and earn an SAT or ACT score that confirms his earlier performance. Finalists for the scholarship will be chosen from the 16,000 semifinalists, and roughly half of those Finalists will go on to win one of approximately 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million, to be awarded next spring.