Three Argyle High Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

If you have a senior at Argyle High School this year, college application season just got a little more interesting. Liyah Cha, Rylee Pizana, and Sri Abhinav Thatavarthi have each been named National Merit Semifinalists — a designation that follows them into every application they submit this fall.

The pool is small. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, drawn from the highest scorers in each state. The 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program drew from more than 1.3 million juniors at over 20,000 high schools nationwide — all of whom sat for the PSAT/NMSQT in 2024 to earn consideration. Three students from one school in southern Denton County making that cut is worth noting.

Semifinalist is the starting line, not the finish. To move forward, the three Eagles must submit a detailed scholarship application, keep their academic record strong, and post confirming SAT or ACT scores. Most Semifinalists who complete those requirements go on to earn Finalist standing, and a portion of Finalists win a National Merit Scholarship.

Families watching for what comes next: scholarship winners are announced on a rolling basis beginning in April 2026 and wrapping up in July. In total, 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million are available through the program, funded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation alongside nearly 300 businesses, colleges, universities, and individual donors. The corporation is a not-for-profit organization established in 1955 and receives no government funding.

Congratulations to all three Eagles.