National Merit® Finalists!

Congratulations to Mason Crowley '26 and Milena Mataac '26, who have been named Finalists in the prestigious 2026 National Merit® Scholarship Program competition. They are exceptional leaders inside and outside the classroom!

They are among approximately 15,000 students, representing less than 1% high school seniors, who have been named Finalists in the 71st annual 2026 National Merit® Scholarship Program.

They will now continue in the competition for approximately 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million which will be awarded in Spring 2026.

"The entire Central Catholic community is beyond proud of the academic success of Mason and Milena," said Principal Mr. Andrew Murray. "We are confident that these talented students will move on to amazing accomplishments and make the CCHS legacy even stronger."

About the National Merit® Scholarship Program

Meet our National Merit® Finalists

• Mason Crowley '26
• Milena Mataac '26

 

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Mason Crowley '26

About Mason

• National Merit® Semifinalist
• Hometown: Lowell
• Middle School: Immaculate Conception School (Lowell, MA)

Activities

• Track & Field
• National Honor Society
• Student Alumni Association
• Student Ambassadors

Why is CCHS Special?

"Definitely the sense of community. Everyone makes such a sincere effort to welcome and understand each other, and it makes a huge difference."

Committed to Service

“My favorite service event is the SAA Christmas event because it’s a great opportunity for us as students to get together and celebrate the holidays while giving to those in need. I have also helped with the TeamWalk for Cancer Care in Lowell, the Haverhill golf tournament, the Special Field Games, and mentoring at Saint Mary's Church."

Faculty Role Models

"I have a lot of teachers that I’d like to thank, but I’d especially like to mention Coach Grella (Mr. Sully Grella '92, Math Faculty), who has consistently encouraged me to push myself to do the best work that I can in football and track; Mr. Griffin (Mr. Brian Griffin, Science Faculty) who makes even the worst of physics easy to understand; Mr. Boucher (Mr. Eric Boucher '04, Math Faculty), who makes sure that our class takes away more than calculus from his lessons; and Mr. Hebert (Mr. Cameron Hebert '17, Math Faculty), who has been a great example to me of how to get involved at Central and make the most of my time here."

Raider Legacy

• Sister: Makayla Crowley '29
• Cousins: Elena Zorbas '27 and Luke Zorbas '27

Congratulations, Mason!

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Milena Mataac '26

About Milena

• National Merit® Semifinalist
• Hometown: Newbury
• Middle School: Immaculate Conception School (Newburyport, MA)

Activities

• Tennis
• National Honor Society, Vice President
• Raider Review Newspaper, Managing Editor
• Concert Band
• Liturgical Band & Chorus
• Student Ambassadors, E-Board
• Student Alumni Association, E-Board
• Visions Coffeehouse
• Camp Champagnat Leadership Institute, Student Leadership Team
• Art Club
• Piano Lessons
• Club Tennis

Why is CCHS Special?

"Central Catholic is a very special place, because it provides every student with an opportunity to pursue their own unique interests. There is always something new to try, and there are so many people here—teachers, faculty, and fellow students—who will never hesitate to give you their full support."

Committed to Service

"Over the past years, I have enjoyed participating in Marist Mentors, where I had the opportunity to work with children in physical and academic need from the community surrounding CCHS; altar serving at my local parish—Immaculate Conception Parish (Newburyport MA); and participating in Student Alumni Association events, including the Christmas Gift Wrapping Event and the Easter Egg Hunt, both of which benefited the least favored."

"I also volunteered this summer at the Museum of Old Newbury (Newburyport) and the Custom House Maritime Museum (Newburyport), working to preserve historical records and promote historical interest in my hometown."

Faculty Role Models

"I would like to thank Mr. Hebert (Mr. Cameron Hebert '17, Math Faculty), who has been a role model and source of support both in class and in extracurriculars; Mr. Denmead (Mr. Bruce Denmead, Music Teacher & Band Director), who introduced me to a world of music I never knew existed; Mr. Griffin (Mr. Brian Griffin, Science Faculty), who has greatly helped me develop an understand of and love for physics; and so many other teachers who have supported me and inspired in me a love for learning throughout my time at Central."

Raider Legacy

• Sister: Maria Mataac '21

Congratulations, Milena!

 

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About the National Merit® Scholarship Program

Approximately 15,000 high school seniors have been named Finalists in the 71st annual 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, having advanced from over 16,000 semifinalists announced in September 2025.

These students, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, now compete for 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million, with winners to be announced in spring 2026.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by about 300 business organizations, higher education institutions, and individual donors that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

The National Merit® Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The program does not measure the quality or effectiveness of education within a school, system, or state.

Steps in the 2026 Competition

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

National Merit Scholarships

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2026. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 830 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 150 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 150 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2026 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join approximately 389,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.