PALM BEACH COUNTY STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS

This year, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognized over 30 Palm Beach County senior students in their annual National Merit Scholarship Program. After rigorous SAT testing and scholarship applications, the most distinguished high school seniors are awarded scholarships in one of three categories: Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships, National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, or College-Sponsored Scholarships.

The first category, Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships, in which two Palm Beach County senior students were awarded scholarships, are financed by nearly 200 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. Scholars are selected from students who advanced to the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate-sponsors represent nearly all sectors of American industry from companies like PWC to Motorola. Most of the awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $500 to $10,000 per year. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.

The second category, National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, in which nine Palm Beach County senior students were awarded scholarships, judges students off the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The nine Palm Beach County students were chosen from a talent pool of 15,000 exceptional finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation finances most of these single-payment National Merit $2,500 Scholarships.

The final category, College-Sponsored Scholarships, awarded 23 different outstanding Palm Beach County senior students. These scholarships were financed by U.S. colleges and universities, and scholarship winners were chosen by officials of each sponsor college from the pool of Finalists who plan to attend their institution. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.