Joliet West High School is proud to announce that senior Caleb Price has been named a Semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit® Scholarship Program, a prestigious academic recognition earned by fewer than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. Caleb is one of only 748 students across the state of Illinois to achieve this honor—and notably, the only student in the entire city of Joliet to be recognized this year.

Over 1.3 million students from nearly 20,000 high schools entered the competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), and just over 16,000 have advanced to the Semifinalist stage. Caleb Price now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for more than 6,900 National Merit Scholarships totaling nearly $26 million that will be awarded in spring 2026. To advance to the Finalist level, he will submit a detailed scholarship application highlighting his academic record, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and personal accomplishments.

"Caleb’s recognition as a National Merit Semifinalist is a proud moment for Joliet West and our entire community," said Tecara Parker, Principal of Joliet West High School. "We are honored to see him represent our school and our city as one of only 748 high school seniors recognized with this honor in Illinois.”

Semifinalists must meet several rigorous requirements to become Finalists, including submitting high academic records, strong letters of recommendation, and confirming SAT or ACT scores. About 95% of Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists, and approximately half of those will win a National Merit Scholarship.

Founded in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program aims to honor the nation’s most academically talented students and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence. Scholarships are awarded by NMSC, along with over 300 sponsoring colleges, universities, and corporations.

For more information on the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit www.nationalmerit.org.

Photo Credit: VIP Photography