Wichita Collegiate School is pleased to announce that four students in the Class of 2027 were announced as National Merit Scholars at an assembly this morning. National Merit Recognition is an honor that is received based on a student’s performance on the PSAT in the preceding year. Over 1.2 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT/PSAT). This nationwide pool represents less than one percent of US high school seniors. As Head of Upper School Chris Ashbrook shared, “This is an amazing accomplishment and one that didn’t come without a great deal of discipline and effort.”
Senior Ben Shackelford was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar. He shares this distinction with only 150 other Kansans. Taking it one step further, classmates Charlie Basinger, Joshua Lee, and Jackson Rukes were recognized as National Merit Semifinalists, an honor reserved for less than 1% of all juniors who sat for the PSAT.
Wichita Collegiate School couldn’t be more proud of these four Spartans and relished the chance to celebrate them this morning. As Mr. Ashbrook closed out this morning's assembly, he shared, "Your hard work and diligence have been rewarded and all of us share a nod of respect with you for taking your shot and making the most of it. You are fine young men who aren’t defined by this recognition but who can wear the badge proudly. We hope you allow yourselves a moment or two to celebrate your achievement…and in case you didn’t hear it earlier…there is a Scholars Bowl Meeting tomorrow.”