Middleton High School is proud to announce that three seniors have been named National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners: Maggie Kirker, Michelle (Sieun) Lee and Kriti Mitra.
They were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Each state’s winners were judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
“We’re excited to see Maggie, Michelle and Kriti earn national recognition for their impressive high school journeys,” said Middleton High School Principal Bobbie Reinhart. “Their leadership has made an impact at our school, and we’re thrilled their scholarship awards will help them continue their journey of academic excellence after graduation.”
Scholarship winners were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the Finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation conducts this annual academic competition to honor the nation's scholastic talent and encourage students to develop their abilities to the fullest. Learn more here.