Queen Creek High School student Canon Rogers has been named a 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program finalist.

Canon was among finalists announced last week by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. This marks the 66^th year of the scholarship program.

“We couldn’t be more proud of Canon and his accomplishment,” said Queen Creek High School Principal Julie Oster in a Queen Creek Unified School District newsletter. “To become a National Merit finalist, you have to show not only academic excellence, but the drive to perform at the highest levels.”

In September 2020, Canon was notified  he was one of 1.5 million semifinalists for the scholarship. Canon entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test when he was a junior. Now, as a finalist, Canon is one of 15,000 high school seniors from throughout the nation competing for approximately 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million.

The semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application to become a finalist. They provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and write an essay.

National Merit Scholarship recipients will be announced in the spring.