KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Five (5) Dobyns-Bennett High School students have been named as Finalists for the 68th Annual 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program, a program designed to identify and honor the top high school students in the United States.

Those named as National Merit Scholarship Finalists from Dobyns-Bennett are Alex Chen, Hannah Estes, Ava Hochstetler, Ria Kothari, and Zackary Newman. 

Alex Chen is the son of Zhuo Chen and Zhu Xiao, Hannah Estes is the daughter of Robert and Michelle Estes, Ava Hochstetler is the daughter of Spencer and Keri Hochstetler, Ria Kothari is the daughter of Sachin and Ushma Kothari, and Zackary Newman is the son of Geoffrey and Julie Newman.

These five students will compete with the top high school students in the nation for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $28 million that will be offered in spring 2023.

High school juniors entered the 2023 competition by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screening of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

“Recognizing these five young people as National Merit Finalists is my honor," said Dr. Brain Tate, Dobyns-Bennett High School Interim Principal. “Kingsport could not ask for a better group of students to represent the community in this competition. The hard work and dedication each student has exhibited is to be commended.”

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and his/her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which information is provided regarding the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school/community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors/awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Over 16,000 students qualified as Semifinalists, about 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title. National Merit Scholarship winners for 2023 will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.

For more information on the National Merit Scholarship Program, please contact the Dobyns-Bennett High School Counseling Office at (423) 378.8409 or visit nationalmerit.org.

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice, and an alternative learning program; with a total enrollment of over 7,900 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to Inspire. Cultivate. Impact.

For more information visit www.k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, or call the KCS Administrative Support Center at (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (kcsdistrict), Instagram (kcs__district), Twitter (@kcs__district), LinkedIn (kcsdistrict), and check out our YouTube Channel (@kcs__district).

####