Kira Donn, a senior at North Little Rock High School, has earned the prestigious distinction of National Merit Semifinalist. This honor places her among an elite group of high-achieving seniors nationwide who have demonstrated exceptional academic excellence and outstanding performance on standardized exams. As a Semifinalist, Donn now has the opportunity to advance to Finalist standing and qualify for a wide range of scholarships.
“This is really exciting. It’s just really cool to see how all the work I’ve put in has materialized. When I think about how freshman me would feel right now, she would say, ‘Oh my gosh, finally, all of the work has materialized,’” Donn said.
According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), over 1.3 million juniors from roughly 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which serves as the initial screening exam. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. This year, 141 Arkansas high school seniors earned a place on the exclusive National Merit Semifinalist list.
Donn, who has attended North Little Rock schools throughout her education, credits her teachers for helping her reach this milestone.
“My teachers have made sure I’ve not only learned every day but had fun and enjoyed being in classes. That’s something people underestimate. Being excited about going to school and having fun in class, I think that’s really important,” she said.
This marks the second consecutive year that a student from North Little Rock High School has been named a National Merit Semifinalist. Last year, Jonah Pulliam earned the honor and went on to become a Finalist. Donn also follows in the footsteps of her brother, Marshall, who received the Semifinalist distinction in 2020.
Donn’s list of achievements continues to grow. Last school year, she earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT. She is also an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, a recognition awarded to students who earn an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, with scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams.
Determined to avoid senioritis, Donn is staying busy, taking four AP classes, participating in art, NLRTV, and theater, and writing scholarship essays.
“In my college applications, you still have to report the classes you’re taking your senior year and the scores you get, so I’m trying to make sure I don’t completely fumble before then,” she said.
Looking ahead, Donn aspires to earn the Jefferson Scholarship at the University of Virginia, which covers full tuition. She also plans to apply to Georgia Tech, MIT, Duke, and other top schools, with the goal of studying engineering.