We are proud to announce that ECCS Senior, Avery Gros, has been named a Semifinalist in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program!

Avery was one of more than 1.2 million juniors from approximately 20,000 high schools who entered the program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide group of semifinalists he is a part of represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

All semifinalists 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 performance on the qualifying test.

“I am very excited. I know there’s still a lot of work for me to do to progress to being a finalist,” says Avery.

To become a finalist in the program, Avery and a member of ECCS administration will now submit a detailed scholarship application that includes information about his academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

In February of 2027, Avery and other semifinalists will find out if they move on to being designated as National Merit Scholars. A few months later, Avery will graduate from ECCS, and he says he plans to go into law. He is considering practicing entertainment law in Nashville for the music industry.