Nine Elgin-area high school students are among 15,000 finalists in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
The students will compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $32 million that will be awarded this spring.
Local students include:
Alexa Mogan, Bartlett High School, School District U46
Rachel Montesano, Bartlett High School, School District U46
Riya Kumar, Elgin High School, School District U46
Thomas Gallagher, St. Edward Central Catholic High School
Adrianna Bugliarello-Wondrich, St. Charles North High School, School District 303
Kaley Fulcher, St. Charles North High School, School District 303
Brigid Millette, St. Charles North High School, School District 303
Neehah Shah, St. Charles East High School, School District 303
Kayla Villa, St. Charles East High School, School District 303
The nationwide pool of finalists represent less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corp. In order to be a finalist, the students sselected as semifinalists and their high schools needed to submit a scholarship application complete with academic records, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards.
If selected as a Merit Scholar, the students will receive one of three scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corp., a corporate sponsor or higher educational institution sponsor, some of which are worth $2,500.
