Cooper C. Mears named Semifinalist for National Merit Scholarship

Cooper C. Mears, the son of Angela and Todd Mears of Van Buren Township and a senior at Belleville High School, has been named a Semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Cooper currently is ranked first out of 394 in his class with a cumulative grade point average of 4.759, with 4.00 being the top score. He has completed 9 AP (advanced placement) courses through the 11th grade and achieved two 4s and seven 5s on the AP examinations, with 5 being the maximum score. He has been recognized by the College Board with an AP Scholarship with Honors Award, an AP Scholar with Distinction Award, and a School Recognition Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
Cooper participates in Chess Club, is the vice president of National Honor Society, is a squad leader in Marching Band, is first-chair flute and piccolo in Symphony Band, and is a member of the Science Olympiad and Robotics teams.
Cooper is also a member of the Civic Philharmonic Orchestra in the Civic Youth Ensemble through the Detroit Symphony Orchestra organization for the 2025-2026 season.
In his free time, he enjoys baking for his friends, family and teachers. Cooper plans on attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor but is undecided on his major.
Two years ago, Cooper’s brother, Parker J. Mears, also was named a Semifinalist, along with Thomas K. Okubo, both of BHS.
On Sept. 9, officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Cooper’s name along with more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 71st-annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.
About 95% of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by about 300 business organizations, higher education institutions, and individual donors that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.