Franklin High School Student Named Finalist for National Merit Scholarship Award

Franklin High School is proud to share that senior Gavin Warnakulasooriya was recently selected as a finalist for a National Merit Scholarship Award by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Franklin High School
senior Gavin Warnakulasooriya

Gavin is one of about 15,000 students across the nation chosen as a finalist. Throughout March, NMSC will select 6,930 students from the pool of finalists to win National Merit Scholarships totaling nearly $26 million.

The journey to finalist status is lengthy, with students first entering the contest with a group of 50,000 top finishers in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, also known as the Preliminary SAT. Then, 16,000 qualifying students, or about 1% of U.S. high school seniors, earned semifinalist status and were considered as finalists.

After being named as a semifinalist last October, Gavin submitted an application and essay, received a high school official's recommendation and confirmed his PSAT score with a high SAT or ACT score to be considered as a finalist.

Gavin is an active participant in the FHS community, serving as captain of the mock trial and debate teams, president of the Science National Honor Society, member of Mu Alpha Theta (the United States mathematics honor society), and varsity member of the track and field team. He was previously a member of the math team and played soccer.

In college, Gavin plans to pursue physics and cognitive science. His passion for learning has led him to pursue personal projects and offer help to his peers.

"I love sharing knowledge in any form, which has led me to peer tutor many friends and author a handbook guide for one of FHS's physics courses, something I found especially rewarding," Gavin said. "More than anything, I would describe myself as a curious learner, and I hope to carry that spirit with me throughout my future."

He is described by faculty as a passionate learner and a humble, kind and personable young man.

"We are so proud of Gavin for being named as a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship," said Principal Maria Weber. "This is a well-deserved honor that he has worked tirelessly to achieve. Gavin's dedication to his studies and passion for sharing knowledge with others has not gone unnoticed, and I am happy to see him recognized for his efforts."

"I want to congratulate Gavin on this impressive achievement," said Superintendent Lucas Giguere. "It is exciting to see students recognized for their hard work, especially on a prestigious level such as the National Merit Scholarship Program. I look forward to seeing where Gavin's dedication and enthusiasm for his education will take him in the future."

About National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Since its founding, NMSC has recognized over 3.4 million students and provided some 451,000 scholarships worth over $1.8 billion. The honors awarded by NMSC to exceptionally able students are viewed as definitive marks of excellence. Recipients of Merit Scholarship® awards, Achievement Scholarship® awards, and corporate-sponsored Special Scholarships have increased the nation's respect for intellectual accomplishments and have contributed significantly to its talent pool of future leaders.

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10 Franklin High School Students Commended by National Merit Scholarship Corporation; 1 Named Semifinalist for Merit Scholar Award

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Principal Maria Weber are pleased to share that a Franklin High School student was named as a Semifinalist for a National Merit Scholarship by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), while 10 fellow seniors were honored as Commended Students.

Those Franklin High seniors recognized as Commended Students by NMSC as part of its 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program include the following: Arden Meyer, Ridika Gandla, Aodhfionn Downs, Charles Nash, Krithi Rajesh, Emma Anderson, Arsh Tyagi, Jonathan Mabardy, Keshav Kumar and Pranava Ponvinayagan.

Ten students from Franklin High School were
named Commended Students by
National Merit Scholarship Corporation

They join about 34,000 Commended Students from throughout the country who are now being honored by NMSC for their exceptional academic promise. They were originally identified from a group of 50,000 top finishers in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, also known as the Preliminary SAT, serving as the initial screen of program entrants.

In addition to the Commended Student honorees, Franklin High School senior Gavin Warnakulasooriya was named as a Semifinalist for a National Merit Scholarship after taking the Preliminary SAT.

Franklin High School senior
Gavin Warnakulasooriya
was named as a Semifinalist
for a National Merit Scholarship

NMSC recently named more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, who each have an opportunity to further demonstrate high academic achievement and leadership in an application for 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million, along with the title of Merit Scholar. (More than 1.3 million juniors took the Preliminary SAT last year, meaning the nationwide pool of semifinalists represents about 1% of U.S. high school seniors.)

NMSC congratulated all of its Semifinalists and Commended Student honorees.

"These students represent a valuable national resource," according to a statement from NMSC. "Recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success."

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Principal Maria Weber congratulated Franklin High School's 10 Commended Students and its National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.

"I am thrilled to see our students acknowledged for their dedication, hard work and achievements," Principal Weber said. "Their accomplishments in the classroom are inspiring and demonstrate their outstanding potential. Congratulations to Gavin, Arden, Ridika, Aodhfionn, Charles, Krithi, Emma, Arsh, Jonathan, Keshav and Pranava. I’m excited to see the great things they will do next in their academic careers and beyond.”

"We are immensely proud of our Franklin High School seniors who earned recognition from NMSC as a Commended Student or National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist," said Superintendent Giguere. "These academic achievements are a demonstration of the drive, hard work, and talents of our students. We're grateful that they are all now being celebrated for these accomplishments."

About National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Since its founding, NMSC has recognized over 3.4 million students and provided some 451,000 scholarships worth over $1.8 billion. The honors awarded by NMSC to exceptionally able students are viewed as definitive marks of excellence. Recipients of Merit Scholarship® awards, Achievement Scholarship® awards, and corporate-sponsored Special Scholarships have increased the nation’s respect for intellectual accomplishments and have contributed significantly to its talent pool of future leaders.

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FHS Senior Lola R. Richardson Selected as Finalist, 13 Commended by National Merit Scholarship Program

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Principal Joshua Hanna are pleased to announce that senior Lola R. Richardson has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, with an additional 13 seniors named Commended Students. 

As a finalist, Richardson will receive a Certificate of Merit attesting to her distinguished performance in the competition. Approximately 7,140 of the over 15,000 finalists will earn scholarships between March and June.

Lola R. Richardson

Richardson is described as a remarkable student whose teachers recognize her as an essential member of their classrooms. She has taken many Advanced Placement courses and is heavily involved in activities and programs at school. Richardson is a member of the 40% Club, works as a mentor and counselor at Franklin Summer Music Camp, plays the accordion, flute and piano, and holds a first degree black belt in Taekwondo.

"I am excited to be a finalist because I have worked very hard and put in consistent effort towards my studies throughout my life," said Richardson. "Being selected as a finalist feels like all of that hard work is being recognized, which is a rewarding feeling, regardless of whether or not I win a scholarship."

Richardson says that her most meaningful high school experience was her participation in the All-State music festival during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. Outside of school, she works as a pianist at the Franklin United Methodist Church.

Richardson was accepted into Berklee College of Music and received a full tuition scholarship. She has not finalized her decision, but is likely to attend Berklee next year. 

The 13 Commended Students are recognized for their exceptional academic promise demonstrated by scoring among the 50,000 highest scorers nationwide on the 2022 Preliminary/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. They will receive letters of commendation from the district, and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program.

Commended Students

The Commended Students include: Aayush Srinivas, Adithya Balagurumoorthy, Aditya Sharma, Andrew Van Marter, Anna David, Anton Sackley, Arnav Deshpande, Ava Reijmers, Brady Flynn, Charles Call, Christopher Bartlett, Jennifer Soohoo and Liana Warnakulasooriya.

"We are incredibly proud of Lola for becoming a finalist for the scholarship, as well as each of the Commended Students for this prestigious achievement," Superintendent Giguere said. "All of these students have worked incredibly hard to accomplish this, and they are very deserving of the recognition."

About National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)

Since its founding, NMSC has recognized over 3.4 million students and provided some 451,000 scholarships worth over $1.8 billion. The honors awarded by NMSC to exceptionally able students are viewed as definitive marks of excellence. Recipients of Merit Scholarship® awards, Achievement Scholarship® awards, and corporate-sponsored Special Scholarships have increased the nation's respect for intellectual accomplishments and have contributed significantly to its talent pool of future leaders.