Lyme-Old Lyme Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist

LYME/OLD LYME, CT – Lauren M. Fulara, a senior at Lyme-Old Lyme High School, has been named a semifinalist in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Fulara stood out from 1.2 million high school students when they took the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) in 2025, according to a news release from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Less than 1% of test takers that year earned the semifinalist distinction. 

Fulara, along with just over 200 students from across Connecticut, joins more than 16,000 semifinalists continuing in the competition nationwide. 

Fulara will compete for 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million. Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the next level of the competition, with approximately half of the finalists earning a National Merit Scholarship. 

The organization will select finalists based on academic records, school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment and any honors and awards they have received. Judges will also look at recommendations, a personal essay and SAT scores. 

The 2026 National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced starting in April.

For more information, visit the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.