APS Students Named National Merit Finalists

Top achieving seniors earn prestigious recognition for academic excellence.

Several students from Albuquerque Public Schools have earned one of the nation’s most prestigious academic honors, being named 2026 National Merit Finalists.

The designation, awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, recognizes high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, strong test performance and a commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom.

Finalists are selected from more than 16,000 semifinalists nationwide and represent the top 1% of graduating seniors in the United States. These students now move on to compete for thousands of scholarships awarded this spring.

APS finalists come from the following schools:

La Cueva High School
Hiro Jau
Ally Jones
Pranav Joshi
Joseph Kerlinsky
Yu Liu
Nathan Lupinetti
Ayla McFall
Reyhan Rahim
Rubaina Reza
Anna Richardson
Aubrey Stuart
Giles Yarrington

Early College Academy
Galen Yane

To become finalists, students completed a rigorous application process that included demonstrating a strong academic record, earning high SAT or ACT scores, writing an essay and receiving a recommendation from a school official.

This recognition reflects not only the students’ dedication and hard work, but also the support of their families, teachers and school communities.