The letter didn’t look like much—just a nondescript white sheet tucked into an envelope. But for AHS senior Treydan Vander Kooi, it was proof that all the late nights, summer study sessions, and quiet determination had finally lined up in his favor.
Inside was the news he’d hoped for: he had been named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, one of only about 16,000 students in the entire country to earn the distinction.
“I was pretty surprised,” Treydan said. “Sixteen thousand sounds like a big number, but nationwide, that’s not a lot.”
Treydan’s path to recognition began with the PSAT/NMSQT, the test that determines National Merit eligibility. His performance earned a selection index score high enough to qualify in Michigan. From there, he was contacted and told he had to take the SAT to prove that his test results were not a fluke. “I got a 1560 on it, so that was good verification,” he said.
Academics aren’t Treydan’s only arena. He’s a wrestler, who has qualified for the state tournament every year since his sophomore season. He approaches both the classroom and the mat with the ability to tune out distractions and commit fully to the task at hand.
“I’m not afraid to sit down and grind out some homework,” he said. “I can just sit down, tune everything out, and get homework done. And then wrestling—when it’s wrestling time, it’s just wrestling.”
That discipline carries seamlessly back into his academic life, helping him thrive in rigorous courses and in hobbies that challenge his mind. “I’m more of a math and science kind of guy,” he said, pointing to his advanced calculus and physics classes. He channels that same focus into chess, where he recently earned a 2100 blitz rating, a level that places him in the advanced tier of competitive online players.
Treydan’s next chapter is already coming into focus, and it’s not far from home. He’s eyeing Grand Valley State University for electrical engineering.
“It’s close, so I can commute,” he said. “It has a really good program for electrical engineering, and it’s a cool campus.” In addition, the generous financial assistance Grand Valley offers to National Merit Scholars makes the choice even more appealing.
As Treydan waits for the next round of National Merit Scholarship announcements this spring, he’s staying grounded. He doesn’t brag. He doesn’t embellish. He just works.
That mindset also shapes the advice he gives to younger students who hope to follow a similar path.
“Just study,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to do stuff out of school. Ask teachers what you can do to get ahead, and put yourself in more difficult classes.” His message is simple: effort matters.
