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Dripping Springs High School seniors Elliott Kling and Jackie Truesdell have been selected as National Merit Finalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors are recognized with this prestigious honor.
In September, Kling and Truesdell were named National Merit Semifinalists based on their performances on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT). To become a National Merit Finalist, students must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, plan to enroll full-time in college the following fall, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm their earlier performance on the qualifying test.
Kling is a member of the Tiger Band and the Foreign Exchange Club. He is the clarinet section leader and a three-time UIL State Solo & Ensemble qualifier as part of the clarinet choir.
Truesdell is a member of the DSHS Speech & Debate team and the National Honor Society. He was named a 2024 All-American by the National Speech & Debate Association, and as a freshman, he captured a state title in the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation (TAPT) School Bus Safety Speech Contest. Truesdell has advanced to the Texas Forensic Association (TFA) State Tournament three times.
Both students were also recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction in October for receiving an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams.
Throughout the spring, roughly half of the National Merit Finalists will be notified that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award.
