Avondale, AZ – Sept. 9 2026 – Saint John Paul II Catholic High School is proud to announce that senior Gabriel Agredasalas has been named a Semifinalist in the 2027 National Merit® Scholarship Program.
Gabriel is among more than 16,000 students nationwide who have earned this prestigious designation, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. Semifinalists are selected based on their exceptional performance on the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).
'We are incredibly proud of Gabriel for achieving this remarkable milestone,' said Sister Rita Marie Kampa, Assistant Principal for Academics at Saint John Paul II. 'This recognition is a testament to Gabriel’s deep intellectual curiosity, hard work, and sustained dedication. Our entire school community celebrates this well-deserved honor.'
To qualify as a National Merit Finalist, Gabriel must fulfill several rigorous requirements, including maintaining an outstanding academic record, receiving a recommendation from a high school official, writing an essay, and earning SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm their earlier qualifying performance. Finalists will be announced in February 2027, followed by the scholarship winners beginning in April.
About Saint John Paul II Catholic High School:
Founded in 2018, the mission of Saint John Paul II Catholic High School is to provide an educational environment that promotes a personal encounter with Jesus Christ through prayer, study, community, and service as disciples.