November 21, 2025 - This year, five Comal ISD students have been named National Merit Semifinalists, and 17 have been named National Merit Commended Scholars through the 71st Annual National Merit Scholarship Program which recognizes students based on their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
The five Semifinalists are Annalisa Abell from Canyon High School, Russell Flournoy from Memorial Early College High School, Xavier Reinhardt from CHS, Keshav Singh from Hill Country College Preparatory High School and Summer Williams from Smithson Valley High School.
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
Besides these Semifinalists, Comal ISD has 17 students recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program as Commended Scholars. They are among the top two-thirds (about 34,000) of the high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT exam.
In recognition of their outstanding ability and potential for academic success in college, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation honors these students receive Letters of Commendation and some may be candidates for Special Scholarships offered by corporate sponsors.
The Comal ISD Commended Scholars
From Canyon High School
- David Griffiths
- Caden Scales
- Lucas Schleweis
From Davenport High School
- Greenley Lemmons
- Braelyn Snyder
- Isabel Templeman
From Hill Country College Preparatory High School
- Luke Ringlein
- Brianna Schmeis
- Isabella Villarreal
From Memorial Early College High School
- Orion Kaufman
From Pieper High School
- Alesia Bohanna
- Halle McAdoo
From Smithson Valley High School
- Julio Avila Agurcia
- Augustus Borchelt
- William Hickman
- Jaia Kellett
- Luke Schroeder
Photo descriptions
-Five Comal ISD students who were named National Merit Semifinalists by College Board were recognized by the Comal ISD Board of Trustees on Nov. 20, during its regular meeting.
-Seventeen Comal ISD students who were named National Merit Commended Scholars by College Board were recognized by the Comal ISD Board of Trustees on Nov. 20, during its regular meeting.
-A total of 22 Comal ISD students were recognized by the Comal ISD Board of Trustees on Nov. 20, during its regular meeting, for being named a Semifinalist or Commended Scholar by the National Merit Scholarship Program.
-Annalisa Abell, who graduated from Canyon High School early, was named a 2026 National Merit Semifinalist.