Red Knights Achieve Academic Excellence

Benilde-St. Margaret’s is pleased to announce that six members of the Class of 2025 have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists: Katherine Cornell, Brynja Lockman, Lucy Loes, Liam Lynch, Jonathan McMerty-Brummer, and Andrew Schmidt.

An additional two Red Knights, Austin Cronk and William Driver, have been named commended scholars for their academic achievements in the classroom. Benilde-St. Margaret’s has consistently had multiple students each year recognized by the National Merit Scholar Corporation, including 106 finalists and semifinalists over the last fifteen years, reflecting the high academic standards at BSM.

“Benilde-St. Margaret's is very excited to celebrate this achievement!” said Matt Weingartz, BSM interim senior high principal. “Setting high expectations encourages students to strive for excellence, instilling a sense of purpose and ambition that extends beyond the classroom. High levels of academic achievement are crucial not only for personal growth but also for shaping a brighter future. We congratulate these Red Knights on their achievement and for always striving for excellence!”

This year, more than 1.5 million students took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, with only 16,000 being named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit^® Scholarship Program, representing less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors. These students are the highest scoring entrants in each state for their exceptional academic promise.

 

BSM’s six semifinalists are outstanding students and also active in a variety of activities and athletics at Benilde-St. Margaret’s:

Katherine Cornell enjoys a variety of subjects from medicine to theology and tutors younger students on a regular basis. She finds her theology courses both engaging and inspiring, providing moments to think creatively and reflect on her beliefs. Cornell's experiences of helping tutor students at a nearby school and her younger sister have revealed an inner passion for sharing knowledge and a natural talent which could lead to a career as a teacher.

Outside of class, Cornell also is a member of the state champion BSM dance team and the school’s ultimate frisbee team. She thrives as a member of both teams, seeing the value in connecting with one another throughout the school day as a means to encourage one another and building strong relationships. Cornell sees athletics as a way to enjoy time with friends and develop interpersonal skills. After graduation, Cornell is considering a degree in education to give back to students what she has received in her educational career.

Brynja Lockman prides herself in her work ethic, striving to be the best in class whether its an AP course, or her favorite subject, English. She has won several journalism awards for her work on the Knight Errant, reads books that will improve her knowledge. Lockman’s self-motivation keeps her focused on devoting time to understand complex concepts. She achieved a perfect score on her ACT exam in 2023.

Outside of class, she co-founded a PAC to support Gen Z candidates running for office, and serves as director of outreach for a youth voting organization. Lockman previously served on the BSM student council and is a regional ambassador for a mental health nonprofit. As a member of the BSM speech team, Lockman advanced to the national competition, finishing in 15th place. Looking beyond high school, Lockman wants to study political science/government and economics, pursuing a career in law.

Lucy Loes is passionate about writing and her accomplishments as a journalist at BSM. Her work on the Knight Errant editorial staff has helped her grow into herself and Loes gained the confidence needed to write insightful stories, conduct a strong interview, and be a leader among her peers.  

She enjoys playing volleyball and participating in cross country at BSM. While her ideas for college range from creative writing to physics to international affairs, Loes is interested and motivated by opportunities which allow her to make a positive impact on others. At the heart of each experience is a thirst to see different perspectives and be an effective storyteller to engage with her audiences. 

Liam Lynch  has always loved math and takes accelerated classes at the University of Minnesota where he is also part of the university’s Talent Youth Math Program. He leverages his ability to think abstractly to master topics and embrace academic challenges in his AP and honors classes. As a result, Lynch is establishing a new club at BSM called Cyber Seniors, where members will assist local seniors with tech needs and questions, sharing their knowledge to help others engage with our digital world.

Outside of class, Lynch is a member of the National Honor Society, French Honors Society, National Mathematics Honor Society, and the National Science Honor Society. He plays soccer and volunteers as a member of BSM’s Link Crew, helping younger students have a meaningful experience as Red Knights. As a Boy Scout, he serves as a Senior Patrol Leader and achieve the rank of Eagle Scout during the summer of 2024. After graduating from BSM, Lynch plans to study in a STEM field of either science or math.

Jonathan McMerty-Brummer sees himself as a well rounded individual who thrives academically at BSM, is involved in Knowledge/Quiz Bowl, is co-vice president of the Model United Nations club, and has participated in multiple BSM mission trips to Guatemala where he improves his fluency in Spanish. McMerty-Brummer enjoys the trips because it allows him to discover different cultures and learn about the life experiences of people who live outside the United States.

Outside of class, McMerty-Brummer is active in the BSM choir and theater programs, expanding his skills and interests while making more friends in the BSM community. Being in the musicals as a junior allowed him to rise to a challenge and try something outside his comfort zone. The experience helped him make new friends and hone skills which can be applied to public speaking and leadership scenarios. In 2023, he achieved a perfect score on his ACT exam, and is considering electrical engineering and STEM opportunities for his college career.

Andrew Schmidt has taken a variety of advanced courses at the Honors and AP level, enjoying math and science the most, leading to his participation in the BSM math league. He also is a member of the Link Crew, serving as a mentor for younger Red Knights on campus. As a member of the boys’ cross country and track teams, Schmidt is always working to improve his times and achievements.

Outside of school, he volunteers at the Animal Humane Society and plays multiple instruments. After learning how to play trumpet, he taught himself guitar and piano. Schmidt is very active in his church and strives to be a model citizen in the community, understanding the value of making a difference in the lives of others. Schmidt enjoys puzzles and calculating patterns, utilizing predictive modeling to determine how things work while satisfying his natural curiosity. He is considering a degree in Statistics at college.

 

Each year, all juniors at BSM are given the opportunity to take either the PSAT or a Practice ACT, and nearly half take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT^®).

The list of 2024 National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced beginning in April 2025.

Congratulations to all of our Red Knight scholars on their remarkable achievements reflecting their dedication to learning, leadership, and service.