The Gazebo Gazette
BAY ST. LOUIS (GG) — Saint Stanislaus senior Blake Henley has been named a Semifinalist in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program. Henley is among more than 16,000 students nationwide to earn the distinction from over 1.2 million students who entered the competition by taking the PSAT/NMSQT.
Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and now have the opportunity to advance to Finalist standing and compete for National Merit Scholarships.
Originally from Diamondhead, Henley currently lives in Bay Saint Louis, and is the son of Bill and Kari Henley. He entered Saint Stanislaus in the seventh grade and has excelled academically, earning a 4.86 weighted GPA and a 34 ACT composite score.
Henley has earned top scores on several AP exams and is currently taking a challenging course load that includes AP English Literature, AP Calculus, AP Physics, and AP Government.
Outside the classroom, Henley is involved in Youth Legislature, Scuba Club, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, swimming, and track and field.
A standout athlete, he has helped the swim team earn two state runner-up finishes and individually placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke at the state meet.
In track and field, Henley is also a state runner-up and has competed in the high jump at the state meet. Henley plans to attend Mississippi State University, where he will major in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture with a focus on freshwater ecology, with the goal of eventually earning a doctorate in the field.
(Photo by St. Stanislaus Communications)
