Graduating Seniors Earn National Merit Program Scholarships
Graduating Seniors Earn National Merit Program Scholarships
Posted on 06/07/2023
Three members of the Class of 2023 are winners of College Based Merit Scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Program. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 a year, for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.
Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the Finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution. Receiving these college-based Scholarships are:
- Jason He, Fort Myers High School
- Jayce McMillan, Bonita Springs High School
- Cooper Petel, Fort Myers High School
Jason He is receiving his college-based scholarship from the University of Florida. Jason is interested in a career in computer programming. Jayce McMillan is also receiving a college-based scholarship from the University of Florida. He plans to study electrical engineering. Cooper Petel’s scholarship is from Florida State University where he plans to study for a career in business management.
College-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners are a part of the distinguished group of more than 7,140 high school seniors who will receive National Merit Scholarships for college undergraduate study worth nearly $28 million. This year, 153 higher education institutions are underwriting Merit Scholarship awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Sponsor colleges and universities include 81 private and 72 public institutions located in 42 states and the District of Columbia.
All three finalists entered the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program when they took the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test at the beginning of their junior year. 16,000 semifinalists were announced in the fall, representing less than 1% of all students in the Class of 2023. From the Semifinalist group, over 15,000 met requirements for Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will be Merit Scholarship winners in 2023.