FORT WASHINGTON, PA — Germantown Academy graduate Zoe Shu '26 has been named a college-sponsored National Merit Scholar, earning recognition as one of the nation’s highest-achieving students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Shu, who plans to pursue a career in biomedical engineering, received a college-sponsored scholarship from Boston University, where she will continue her academic journey this fall. College-sponsored National Merit Scholarships are awarded to students who have committed to attending a specific institution and are part of the final round of National Merit Scholarship announcements for the year.

The prestigious recognition follows a highly competitive selection process that began in October 2024, when approximately one percent of students nationwide who took the PSAT were named semifinalists. From an initial pool of roughly 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 advanced to finalist standing after meeting academic and application requirements. Ultimately, approximately 6,700 students across the country earned the title of National Merit Scholar.

Shu was among a select group of students recognized in Pennsylvania as part of this year’s college-sponsored scholarship recipients. These awards provide financial support for undergraduate study and celebrate students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to their future fields of study. Through her pursuit of biomedical engineering, Shu hopes to combine engineering principles with advances in medicine to help improve lives and contribute to the future of healthcare.