February 11, 2025
In October, we relayed the good news that Gilbert High School was represented by not one and not two, but three members of the senior class on the distinguished list of National Merit Scholar semifinalists.
It’s not easy to be named a national semifinalist, as less than one percent of all high school seniors in the United States make the cut. Naturally, it’s even h harder to be named a National Merit Scholar finalist.
But in baseball terms, GHS is batting 1.000.
We are so excited to inform all of you that Nathan Lee, Isaac Brown, and Ashton Fergen have all been named National Merit Scholar finalists. All three could now potentially receive a National Merit Scholarship from the institution of higher learning they choose following gaduation from GHS.
The trio follows in the footsteps of Class of 2024 graduate Alice Zhang, who was named a National Merit Scholar finalist a year ago.
To become a finalist, students had to submit an application and essay, and also score well on either the ACT or SAT. Lee, Brown, and Fergen all scored between a 33 and 35 out of a possible 36 on the ACT. Lee also took the SAT and scored a 1,550 out of a possible 1,600.
Lee a U.S. presidential scholars program candidate
Oh, but wait, there’s more good news.
Lee also recently learned he has been named a candidate in the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars program. Students can become U.S. Presidential Scholars based on three paths of accomplishment: broad academic achievement, academic and artistic scholarship, or ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
Approximately 3,600 high school seniors across the nation are selected as U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates. That pool is trimmed to 620 semifinalists, which will be announced this spring, and then the Presidential Scholars Commission will select up to 161 students to receive the award, one of nation’s highest honors for a high school student.
In 2024, two students from the state of Iowa — Sarah Park of Ames High School and Andrew Dong of Iowa City West High School — were among the 161 students honored nationally.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
Gilbert Schools is incredibly proud of all three of our National Merit Scholar finalists, and we wish Nathan Lee good luck in his pursuit of a U.S. Presidential Scholar honor. Thank you for representing our school district and community in such a positive way.
