Amanda Bolton ’25 Named National Merit Semifinalist

Saint John’s Prep Senior Amanda Bolton is a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Amanda is the daughter of Nicole and Aaron Bolton of Sartell. She is the sister of Matthew ’22 and Sarah ’25.

Amanda is one of the 16,000 students nationwide and 288 students in Minnesota to earn the honor as semifinalist. She is among the academically talented high school seniors who now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for scholarships worth $33 million. She is among the top scorers of the PSAT/NMSQT® in the United States and Minnesota. 

Amanda is co-captain of the soccer and basketball teams and competes with the Prep varsity track and field team. Her other leadership positions include National Honor Society service committee chair, German Club co-president, and team lead in the junior volunteer program at St. Cloud Hospital. She is also a member of the Mock Trial and Envirothon teams and works at The Good Shepherd Community as a certified nursing assistant.

Amanda’s future plans include studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) in college. Her long-term goal is to attend medical school and become a pediatric dermatologist. 

Amanda enjoys her science classes as well as film studies. “I enjoyed AP Biology with Ms. Pasela because I got to grow my interest in the subject and explore potential concentrations. Also, Film Studies with Mr. Erickson was among my favorites, as it expanded my understanding of film history and techniques.”

She’s grateful to be a Saint John’s Prep student because of the small class sizes. “At Prep, the small student-to-faculty ratio allows me to excel in school because of the personalized attention from teachers and their ability to adapt their pace to the class’s needs.”

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®)–a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

To become a National Merit Finalist, Amanda will submit a detailed application that includes her academic record, school and community activities, leadership abilities, honors, and awards. More than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Finalists are recognized in February of 2025.