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).
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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.
