News release
The William S. Hart Union High School District announced that seven outstanding high school seniors have been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.
This achievement places these students among the top high school seniors in the nation, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, according to a news release from the district.
The 2026 National Merit Finalists from the Hart district are:
- Rohit Arangil, West Ranch High School.
- Brandon Chang, West Ranch High School.
- Aiden Chung, Academy of the Canyons.
- Andrew Kim, Valencia High School.
- Devin Kozakis, Valencia High School.
- Flo Avalos Lujan, West Ranch High School.
- Angelina Nguyen, Canyon High School.
To advance to the finalist stage, these students met a series of rigorous requirements set by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. This process included earning exceptional scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and submitting a comprehensive scholarship application. The application required a strong academic record throughout high school, a recommendation from a school official, a personal essay, and a detailed account of the students’ extracurricular activities and community involvement.
“We are incredibly proud of these seven scholars for reaching this prestigious milestone,” Superintendent Michael Vierra said in the release. “To be named a finalist requires not only exceptional standardized test scores but also a consistent record of high academic performance, leadership and service. This recognition reflects their personal hard work and the dedication of our educators who have supported them along the way.”
As finalists, these students are now eligible for several types of National Merit Scholarships, including those provided by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., corporate sponsors, and participating colleges and universities. Scholarship recipients are selected based on their academic skills, school and community participation and written recommendations.
