Merit Scholarship finalists![1]

The SCSD is proud to announce we have a total of seven Merit Scholarship Finalists!
Smithtown High School West students Jacob Bergman and Ishaanth Reddy Guduru, and Smithtown High School East students, Madeline McCullough, Shaayan Alam, Prateek Chilakamarthy, Saquib Syed, Arnav Jain have been named finalists for the 2026 National Merit Scholarship, placing them among the top high school scholars in the country.

The National Merit Scholarship program is an academic competition that distributes more than 6,900 scholarships worth a combined total of nearly $26 million. National Merit Scholars are selected based upon a student’s skills, accomplishments and potential for success in college.

"We are incredibly proud of our National Merit Finalists at High School East,” Smithtown High School East Principal Paul McNeil exclaimed. “These five students represent the very best of what happens when you combine an exceptional work ethic with a rigorous academic schedule. Their success is a testament not only to their own hard work, but also to the dedication of our teachers who create a supportive learning environment that challenges them to reach their full potential. We cannot wait to see what these students will accomplish next.”

“The High School West community is beyond proud to celebrate Jacob and Ishaanth for being named National Merit Finalists. This prestigious honor puts them among the top tier of students in the country, but beyond the test scores and accolades, we know them as individuals with exceptional character who have made an immensely positive impact on our school." Smithtown High School West Principal William Holl added.

Qualifications for the 2026 National Merit Program include maintaining an outstanding academic record throughout high school and taking the preliminary SAT (PSAT) as a junior, which serves as an initial screening of the more than 1.3 million students who enter.

Congratulations to the students as well as the following guidance counselors:
High School West: Isabella Aviles and Sara Stone
High School East: Karen Schmalz, Kelly Brouthers, Diane Gianicco and Marissa Urso