12 MAY 2026 By Sherry Sklar A select group of Arcadia area students is celebrating a significant academic achievement after years of focus, hard work and dedication. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recognized this year’s National Merit Finalists from Arcadia, Brophy and Xavier as top scholars in the nation. The competition features a lengthy qualifying process that bridges a student’s junior and senior years. Students qualify for the program by scoring in the top one percent on the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) taken in October of their junior year. About 1.3 million students take the exam annually. Of these, roughly 50,000 earn recognition based on the highest scores in each state. To continue, students must submit an application, write an essay and receive a recommendation from their school. About 16,000 students are named semifinalists early in their senior year, and roughly 95 percent advance to become finalists. From that group, a committee of college admission officers and high school counselors selects about 2,500 students nationwide for $2,500 National Merit Scholarships. Corporate and university sponsors offer additional awards. In its 71st year, the program expects to award almost 7,000 scholarships totaling $26 million. Here are this year’s finalists:  Arcadia High had three finalists: William Carroll, Tess Dwyer-Kim and Cian Fehlberg. “The National Merit Scholarship has given me the opportunity to attend the University of Alabama debt-free,” William said. “I plan to study mechanical engineering and eventually pursue a master’s degree.” Tess said managing the workload for the scholarship was challenging but fulfilling. “It has been an incredibly rewarding experience, especially after balancing my academics, extracurricular activities, and social life,” she said. “I plan to attend Loyola Marymount University in California, and becoming a finalist has made that goal possible.” Cian reflected on the opportunities that come with being named a Merit Scholar. “The generous scholarship support and academic opportunities will help me make the most of my college experience,” he said.  Ben Cherny credits the teachers who helped inspire his love of learning. “I’m grateful to the supportive teachers I’ve had from kindergarten at Madison Traditional Academy to today,” Ben said. “They’ve given me a love of learning that I will take with me to college and beyond.” For his classmate Muraad Irfan, family and school provided the encouragement that helped him reach this point. “Being named a National Merit Finalist is an honor because it reflects the support and discipline I received from my parents and the Brophy community,” Muraad said. “This recognition sets a foundation for me to continue pursuing excellence.” For many students, these scholarships are opening doors to future opportunities. Sebastian Cevallos is eager to explore engineering in college and see what projects he can build, while Lucas Vargas plans to study urban planning and public policy to help make cities like Phoenix more livable. Todd Rassas appreciates his school community’s support and plans to soar. “It is an honor being named, and a reminder of how much I’ve benefited from the help of teachers and classmates,” he said. “Next year, I will be attending the United States Air Force Academy to become a pilot.” Hayden Short was surprised and honored to receive the good news. “This award will support me as I attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall, studying mechanical engineering,” he said. Vincent Laba shared his pride in receiving the award, expressing gratitude for his family and the opportunities he’s had at Brophy. He looks forward to continuing his journey and studying engineering in college. Shane Smith echoed that sentiment, saying he is grateful to be part of the long-standing tradition and hopes this recognition will help him achieve his dreams. Yiyi Sun described the honor as both encouragement and motivation, seeing it as a push to continue working hard and striving for excellence. Carter Walsh added that being a National Merit finalist has already opened doors for college and acknowledged the reward of a summer spent studying and preparing.  Senior Ronak Kapadia earned a perfect 36 on the ACT, a feat achieved by fewer than 0.2-0.5 percent of test takers nationwide. He’s also a National Merit Finalist. “I bought this Princeton review ACT book and I took a practice test just on my own and I graded it myself and I tried to find where my weak spots were,” he said. Math has always been a strong subject for him, so he knew he would do well. “In the science section, I noticed I had some trouble. So, I worked on the science section,” he said, taking practice tests with the intention of bumping up that science score. The hard work paid off. After graduation, he plans to major in aerospace engineering. His top choices for college include Georgia Tech, Purdue, and Texas A&M College Station.  NMSC also named seniors Kennedy Williamson and Adriana Lauterborn National Merit Finalists. “This is a great honor,” Adriana said. “Recognition for my dedication to academic rigor makes me eligible for a variety of scholarships, which will help me pursue my future aspirations.” A competitive swimmer, Adriana will continue her academic and athletic career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this fall. She plans to join the swim team and is considering a major in nuclear science and engineering. These awards mark an important achievement for students as they prepare for college and future careers. Their accomplishments reflect both individual determination and the strong educational foundations built within Arcadia’s schools. nationalmerit.org Area students named National Merit Finalists William Carroll Cian Fehlberg Adriana Lauterborn Yiyi Sun Benjamin Cherny Ronak Kapadia Hayden Short Carter Walsh Sebastian Cevallos Muraad Irfan Todd Rassas Lucas Vargas Tess Dwyer-Kim Vincent Laba Shane Smith Kennedy Williamson OPEN SUN-MON-TUES 11AM-9PM WED-THURS 11AM-9:30PM FRI-SAT 11AM-10PM • DINE IN • PATIO SERVICE • SAT-SUN BRUNCH MENU WITH DRINK SPECIALS • HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS • PICKUP ORDERS Try our full catering service: 602-300-7133 Safety guidelines are being followed. Thanks for your support! • SAT-SUN BRUNCH MENU WITH DRINK SPECIALS • SAT-SUN BRUNCH MENU WITH DRINK SPECIALS Safety guidelines are being followed. Thanks for your support! Safety guidelines are being followed. Thanks for your support!    
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