The NMSC is a not-for-profit organization that operates specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by the NMSC with funds from four hundred nation-wide businesses and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

Fiol says he is excited for this recognition because he did not think it was possible.

“I am very excited about this award because I feel like it can open up a lot of new opportunities for the future that I wouldn’t have thought were possible just a few years ago,” Fiol said.

Last year, Fiol, along with over 1.5 million juniors, entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which was the initial screening process of program entrants. Semifinalists are made up of a pool of nationwide students that represent less that one percent of U.S. high school seniors.

Julie Pratt, Frenship Advanced Academics & Counseling Coordinator, says that Fiol’s hard work, determination, and high PSAT NMSQT test scores qualified him to be a semifinalist.

“His score was among the highest in Texas,” said Pratt. “There are only 1,441 semifinalists in Texas for the Class of 2021, so it is a huge accomplishment. He is a great, hard-working young man!”

Pratt says the finalist application deadline will be on October 7 and Fiol will find out if he is a finalist in early February.

Fiol is enrolled in numerous AP and Dual Credit courses and enjoys playing the tuba in the Frenship High School Band, and likes spending time with his friends in band.