PALM BEACH COUNTY STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS
June 2018
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.
Name | Hometown | High School | Corporate Sponsor |
Claire R. Patterson | Lake Worth | Suncoast Community | ACI Worldwide, Inc. |
Shreya N. Patel | Loxahatchee | Seminole Ridge | Walgreen Co. |
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.
Name | Hometown | High School |
Vinayak Kawatra | Boca Raton | Atlantic Community |
Lauren A. Morejon | Boca Raton | Boca Raton Community |
Emilie C. Pouleriguen | Boca Raton | Boca Raton Community |
Eli M. Wiston | Lake Worth | Suncoast Community |
Matthew A. Po | Loxahatchee | Suncoast Community |
Andre B. Soucy | Loxahatchee | Seminole Ridge |
William Z. Gao | Palm Beach Gardens | Suncoast Community |
Matthew B. Hakkarainen | Palm Beach Gardens | Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts |
Shang Chen | Wellington | Suncoast Community |
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.
Name | Hometown | HIgh School | School Sponsoring |
Gabriela I. Cestero | Atlantis | Suncoast Community | Vanderbilt University |
Matthew S. Christie | Boca Raton | Boca Raton Community | University of Miami |
Sam C. Enfield | Boca Raton | West Boca Community | University of Florida |
Kathryn F. Ghougasian | Boca Raton | West Boca Community | University of Miami |
Sarah R. Klein | Boca Raton | Atlantic Community | University of Florida |
Valerie A. Kwong | Boca Raton | Atlantic Community | University of Florida |
Fabrizia Villela Mugnatto | Boca Raton | Atlantic Community. | Emory University |
Dara Sheryl Weinstein | Boca Raton | Spanish River Community | University of Chicago |
Cole Wilson | Boca Raton | Spanish River Community | University of Southern California |
Kierstin Alexandra Smith | Boynton Beach | Suncoast Community | University of Florida |
Daniel A. Fernandes | Greenacres | Atlantic Community | University of Florida |
Kiki R. Montgomery | Jupiter | Jupiter Community | University of Florida |
Casey Politano | Jupiter | William T. Dwyer | University of Florida |
Claire K. Scozzari | Jupiter | Suncoast Community | University of Florida |
Hannah E. Trenkie | Jupiter | Suncoast Community | University of Florida |
Carlos L. Hernandez | Lake Worth | Park Vista Community | University of Central Florida |
Ashley Jenkins | Lake Worth | Park Vista Community. | University of Florida |
Ryan M. Ahmed | Palm Beach Gardens | Suncoast Community | University of Florida |
Paige Nicole Beckey | Palm Beach Gardens | William T. Dwyer | University of Florida |
Natasha Mandi | Palm Beach Gardens | Suncoast Community | University of Southern California |
Alexander M. Levine | Tequesta | Suncoast Community | Emory University |
Austin Jay Lent | Wellington | Suncoast Community H.S. | University of Miami |
Jonathan O. WIlson | Wellington | Wellington | University of Central Florida |