Blog
NPC Senior Earns National Merit
Scholarship Semifinalist Honor
Grand Rapids, MI — NorthPointe Christian Schools is celebrating the academic excellence of senior JJ Rathbun, who has been named a semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Rathbun is one of just 472 students in Michigan and more than 16,000 nationwide to achieve this recognition. Over 1.3 million students from 20,000 schools competed for semifinalist status, making JJ’s achievement especially notable.
This distinction stems from Rathbun’s success on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) taken during his junior year.
Semifinalists now move forward in the competition by submitting additional academic and extracurricular credentials, essays, recommendations, and qualifying SAT scores. Awards include scholarships, corporate-sponsored opportunities, and generous packages from universities nationwide.
NorthPointe Christian High School Principal Tom Molenkamp praised Rathbun’s accomplishment, noting both the personal achievement and what it represents for the NPC community:
“J.J. has pushed himself academically throughout his career at NPC, and it has paid wonderful dividends. To his great credit, he has also engaged socially, athletically, and in clubs. He has excelled in Spanish Immersion and dual enrollment, holds an exceptionally high grade point average, and serves as a leader among his peers. We are exceedingly proud that he is a Mustang!”
NorthPointe Christian Schools extends its heartfelt congratulations to JJ Rathbun and looks forward to supporting him as he advances in the National Merit Scholarship process. Congratulations JJ!
