Spartanburg Day School

Spartanburg Day School has announced that two students, Mary Ella Bullington and Samuel Hinckley Kitchen, have been named finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, a prestigious academic competition that recognizes outstanding high school students across the United States.

Bullington and Kitchen are among more than 15,000 finalists nationwide who advanced through a rigorous selection process based on their academic performance, leadership, and potential for success in college and beyond. Both students have been presented with Certificates of Merit in recognition of their achievement.

“Being named a National Merit Finalist is a significant academic accomplishment,” said Dave Skeen, Head of School at Spartanburg Day School. “Mary Ella and Samuel have demonstrated a strong commitment to their studies, and we are proud to see their hard work recognized on a national stage.”

The National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC), conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, is an annual academic competition that began in 1955. The program honors students for their academic excellence and provides scholarship opportunities for undergraduate study. NMSC is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance.

Students enter the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screening of more than 1.3 million entrants each year. Finalists represent a select group of students who meet high academic standards and fulfill additional program requirements.

The selection of approximately 6,800 Merit Scholar winners from this group of finalists is currently underway. Scholarship recipients will be announced in the coming months.