Hewlett High School senior Darsh Chavre is the Hewlett-Woodmere Public School District’s only semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Chavre is among the top 1 percent of U.S. seniors — more than 16,000 students nationwide — to receive the honor after scoring a perfect 1520 on his Preliminary SAT exam.
Marking its 70th year, the program has a several-step process in which students compete to earn $2,500 and the title of Merit Scholar. The scholarships are underwritten by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Over 1 million high school juniors at more than 21,000 high schools take the PSAT, and those with the highest scores are selected as semifinalists on a state-by-state bases, proportional to each state’s percentage of the nation’s total number of graduating seniors.
Chavre, 17, is president of the Hewlett High Student Council and the Chess Club, and a member of the Debate Club and the Roboboogie robotics team. “I’m also really big into science research,” he said. “I do science research with the program offered at school.”
He received a letter in the mail about his semifinalist status late last month, and completed a required essay, activities list and demographic information in order to be considered further.
“I’m applying to be a finalist, fingers crossed,” he said. “We’ll see how that goes in the coming months.”
Chavre said he was happy to be a semifinalist, but felt bad, because a lot of his friends also scored high on the PSAT. “I hoped more of my friends would make it to the cutoff,” he said. “I just happened to be lucky and make it through. I’m happy I made it, but also a little sad.”
He plans to study regenerative biology in college, and to eventually earn a Ph.D. and become either a doctor or a science researcher.
“My high school is awesome, and any chance I get to represent them and put a good foot forward is awesome,” Chavre said. “Also, the scholarship money would be nice.”
“I recall the day he got the perfect score on the PSATs last year,” said Colleen Murphy, who has been Chavre’s school counselor for three years, but has known him for seven years. “He came in with the biggest smile ever. He worked tirelessly to ace that test, and we had a great moment of celebration.”
Murphy described his being named a semifinalist as a “huge accomplishment,” and added that it makes him a top candidate for a lot of major universities.
“This is one of those markers that helps set him apart for access to really great college opportunities,” she said.
Hewlett High Principal Al Bauer, who has known Chavre since he was in sixth grade, said that his accomplishment highlights the school, and its community.
“This is a community that really embraces its academics and showcases what our students can do,” Bauer said. “Hopefully this will be a catalyst for the next round of students that come up to the high school. Darsh has always been on the top of his game, inquisitive and has a thirst for knowledge.”
Murphy said that Chavre takes the most rigorous courses, and influences other students, who see the virtually limitless opportunities they have at the high school.
Bauer’s first reaction when he found out about Chavre’s accomplishment was happiness for him and his family, as well as those at school who work with him.
“I was super excited for Ms. Murphy, because it’s not something that happens often, and we do only have one,” Bauer said. “It also gives a sense of pride for the staff and all who helped him along his journey.”
“Knowing that there’s so many more greater things ahead of him is exciting to think about,” Bauer added.
Murphy said she couldn’t wait to see where Chavre will go from here. “He’s an incredibly qualified candidate for whatever he puts his mind to,” she said. “Darsh is certainly on his way.”
