Two Indian Hill seniors and one Mariemont senior are among seven Cincinnati Country Day School students honored in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Eric Niu of Indian Hill earned Semifinalist status, placing him among roughly 16,000 students nationwide. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of the approximately 1.2 million juniors who entered the competition by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Nicholas Freitas of Mariemont also earned Semifinalist honors, along with Gertrude Lazarus of Hyde Park, Ria Patel of Loveland and Max Sun of Mason.

Minna Vens of Indian Hill was named a Commended Student, a distinction given to about 34,000 of the top 50,000 scorers nationally. Aarnav Narayanan of Mason also received the Commended designation.

The school announced the honors Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Vens was also named a Class Scholar for Country Day's Class of 2027 on Aug. 27, an award the school gives to the student with the highest GPA in their class during the previous school year, according to Living Magazines.

"It's a delight to see Country Day scholars recognized nationally," Stephen Jackson, Country Day's director of college counseling, said in the announcement. "Their achievement reflects the intellectual thoroughness, curiosity, and academic depth that define life here."

Jon Zeljo, head of Country Day's Upper School, said the honor reflects both individual achievement and the support of faculty and families.

The Country Day honors add to a strong local showing in the 72nd annual competition. As we reported Sept. 23, Sycamore High School named 17 Semifinalists. Indian Hill High School announced seven Semifinalists and nine Commended Students on Sept. 17. Madeira High School named Semifinalists Maya Parker and Luke Pease on Sept. 15.

Country Day's five Semifinalists now compete for roughly 6,700 National Merit scholarships worth nearly $24 million. About 95 percent of Semifinalists nationwide are expected to advance to Finalist standing, with notifications expected in February 2027. Scholarship winners will be announced from April through July 2027.