Dripping Springs High School seniors Trinabh Gupta, Colton Inglish and Cody Ritchey have been named National Merit Semifinalists based on their performance on the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).
Gupta, Inglish and Ritchey are among more than 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. Approximately 95 percent are expected to advance to the Finalist level, which will be announced in February 2027.
Gupta is a member of the award-winning FIRST Robotics program, The Spring Konstant, and the Game Development Club at Dripping Springs High School.
Inglish has been actively involved in HOSA, most recently serving as chapter president and competing at the international level. He has also served as an election poll worker and authored research papers on trust in America’s professionals and civic participation. He continues to serve his community through volunteering with his church, Young Men’s Service League, and other organizations.
Ritchey is a member of the DSHS Choir program and a three-time regional and area qualifier as a Tenor 2 performer. He has also participated in the school’s Audio/Visual Program and currently serves as an A/V intern.
To become a National Merit Finalist, students must submit a scholarship application with information on their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. The Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.