Ursuline Academy of Dallas is proud to recognize three members of the Class of 2027 who have been named Semifinalists in the 72nd Annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Congratulations to Adelynn H. ’27, Evy H. ’27, and McLain S. ’27, who were selected from approximately 1.3 million students representing more than 22,000 high schools nationwide based on their performance on the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

These academically talented students now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million that will be awarded next spring. To advance, Semifinalists must meet several additional requirements to attain Finalist standing. About 95 percent of Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists, and about half of the Finalists will ultimately earn a National Merit Scholarship and the prestigious Merit Scholar® title.

Beyond their academic accomplishments, Ursuline's National Merit Semifinalists are leaders, innovators, and engaged members of the school community whose passions extend far beyond the classroom.

Adelynn H. '27

Adelynn serves as president of the Ursuline Robotics Team, co-president of Mu Alpha Theta, and secretary of the National Honor Society. Her love of math and science has inspired her to pursue aerospace engineering in college.

"I love the math and science involved with building things that fly," she said.

Some of Adelynn's favorite experiences at Ursuline have come in her physics courses, where classroom concepts are brought to life through hands-on learning.

"Any physics class I have taken brings me joy," she shared. "I have had amazing teachers who designed exciting experiments for us, like building rockets or circuits, and made the material very comprehensible through labs."

Evelyn "Evy" H. ’27

Evy's involvement reflects her wide range of interests and talents. She serves as a Community & Inclusion student leader, president of the Asian Student Union, parliamentarian of the National Honor Society, and a UA Ambassador. She is also a member of the Ursuline-Jesuit String Orchestra and plays club soccer.

While she is still exploring future career paths, Evy knows she is drawn to STEM.

"I am currently undecided, but I am thinking about something in the STEM field," she said. "I have so many different interests, and it is hard to choose!"

One class that has brought her joy at Ursuline is Chinese. Through engaging instruction and real-world application, she has developed both confidence and fluency.

"Most of all, it's rewarding to develop a skill from scratch and then apply it in real life," Evy said. She recently experienced that firsthand while attending a science symposium in Taiwan through Ursuline, where she was able to converse with local residents in Chinese.

Mary "McLain" S. ’27

McLain is actively involved across the Ursuline community as service coordinator for the National Honor Society, communications coordinator for Ursuline Peer Scholars, a Jesuit Rangerette, Ursuline Ambassador, and a member of the National Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and the Global Advisory Council.

She plans to study either biochemistry or biomedical engineering on a pre-medicine track, combining her passion for STEM with a desire to serve others.

"What interests me about this field of study is a strong interest in math and science," she said. "I have also always enjoyed service and helping others, so medicine is a perfect intersection."

At Ursuline, McLain has especially enjoyed Multivariable Calculus.

"While the content is challenging, our small class has really bonded, and we are always there to help each other," she said.

As Adelynn, Evy, and McLain continue through the National Merit Scholarship competition, we celebrate not only their academic excellence but also their curiosity, leadership, and commitment to learning. Their achievements reflect the spirit of Serviam that continues to inspire generations of Ursuline students.