Coahulla Creek High School seniors Trinity Guo and Anderson Griggs have been named National Merit Scholar semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.
As two of only 16,000 students nationwide to receive this recognition, Guo and Griggs have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, leadership and potential for success in college. To advance to the finalist stage, they will submit a detailed scholarship application highlighting their academic achievements, leadership roles, community involvement and personal accomplishments.
When Griggs first learned of his selection as a National Merit semifinalist he was surprised, having not realized he had qualified. However, as the news settled in, his excitement grew.
“It’s a great opportunity for my future,” he said.
Griggs is deeply motivated by his family, especially his brothers, who excelled academically, and by his parents, who have always supported and encouraged him to do his best. He credits his success to his mother, Mikaela Griggs; his father, Christian Griggs; and his English teacher, Teresa Hester.
“Being a National Merit semifinalist makes me feel proud of myself. It also gives me a sense of security for my future and getting into the college I want,” Griggs said.
He plans to attend Brigham Young University in Utah, his parents’ alma mater, and major in journalism.
Guo shared that her preparation for the PSAT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) involved detailed practice using Blue Book, where she completed all available practice tests. After each test, she carefully reviewed her mistakes and focused on improving in those areas.
She also found motivation in her family, especially through a friendly academic competition with her brother, who had done well in school. She credits her success to her brother for helping her with questions, her mother for her constant encouragement, and her teachers, Teresa Hester and Billy Singleterry (calculus).
“Being a National Merit semifinalist makes me feel like all my hard work paid off. I wasn’t sure if I could get this far, but now that I have, I feel confident that I can keep going,” Guo said.
Her goal is to enroll in a tech-focused university to pursue a degree in computer science.
The next steps in the scholarship process are approaching, and Griggs and Guo are preparing to submit essays about their inspirations and experiences during high school. Whitfield County Schools educators are incredibly proud of their achievements and hard work, and wish them the best of luck in the next phase of the competition.
Submitted by Whitfield County Schools.