Three Deering High School seniors, Violet Blum Levine, Anja Machado, and Asa Tussing, have been named Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. This prestigious recognition highlights their exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The students are among just 53 Maine seniors selected as Semifinalists, and they now have the opportunity to compete for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million.

To reach the Semifinalist level, students 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 their earlier performance on the qualifying test.   

We asked Anja, Asa, and Violet about their journey and future aspirations. Here's what they had to say:

Asa Tussing: "I have always been very competitive--perhaps too much. This definitely applies to tests, especially where there is a 'correct answer.' I like the certainty of finding an answer and knowing it is true. I have to say that my experience doing Math Team helped a ton on the math section. And, of course, I couldn't have gotten here without the help of the amazing DHS teachers I've had. Thank you! I see trying to become a National Merit Scholar as a goal that runs parallel with getting into college. The former is an honor that I've been working hard for during my time at Deering, and the latter stands for everything I'll try and do in the future. In terms of 'a positive impact on the world,' I don't know where college will take me. I've gotten a lot of practice running blood drives at DHS; hopefully that legacy continues when I've graduated--Noah, Prank, Wellis, I'm talking to you guys. Wherever I go, I hope to spread a passion for knowledge."

Anja Machado: "I would say my motivation to ‘strive for excellence’ is a desire to continue pushing myself to higher levels despite how much effort and time it may take, amplified by the constant support from my family and friends. I hope to someday make a positive impact on the world through a career in either medical research or climate change."

Violet Blum Levine: "I think I’ll just say always wanting to learn more and being curious. I’ve always wanted to learn about how different devices and machines around me work, which is why I want to study engineering. I also like working with my hands and building things. I hope in the future I can make something that helps people."

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a prestigious competition that recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The program began in 1955, and since then, over 382,000 students have earned the Merit Scholar title.

The National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and ending in July 2025.

We congratulate Asa, Anja, and Violet on this remarkable achievement and wish them continued success in their academic pursuits.