After being named a Finalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program earlier this year, Burroughs High School senior Silas Aberer has secured a nearly full-cost scholarship to the University of Central Florida.
Aberer, who was recognized as a Semifinalist last September based on his Preliminary SAT (PSAT) scores, advanced to the Finalist stage following a rigorous application process. The transition required a formal scholarship application, including a personal essay and letters of recommendation reviewed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
“The scholarship application was pretty stressful,” Aberer said. “It’s given me confidence that I can succeed in a rigorous academic program.”
While the official winner status of the National Merit $2,500 scholarship will be announced later this year, Aberer has already leveraged his Finalist standing to secure a significant institutional package from UCF.
The scholarship covers tuition, housing and additional expenses, totaling approximately 95% of the cost of attendance.
Aberer selected UCF following a visit to the campus in January, where he met with the dean of the computer science department.
“He designed pretty much their entire course and was able to walk me through the unique aspects of each course in detail,” Aberer said. “They also have one of the top cyber defense teams in the country.”
The decision was also driven by the university’s proximity to the Florida Space Coast. Aberer, who plans to major in computer science, hopes to work in the evolving aerospace sector.
“Now that private contractors like SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing commercial rockets, it seems like we might finally be able to expand into space for more than just scientific expeditions,” Aberer said. “All those companies work on the Space Coast, and working on software for one of them would have a very tangible impact.”
As a Finalist, Aberer represents the top tier of high school seniors nationwide. The institutional scholarships offered to National Merit Finalists are often significantly larger than the standard awards provided by the National Merit Corporation itself. For Aberer, the UCF offer provides a direct path to a high-ranking program while minimizing the need for student loans.
