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National Merit names scholarship winners
Updated: May 20, 2012 8:25AM
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation Wednesday released the names of the first group of winners in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
About 1,000 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 200 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations.
Below are area winners, their home towns, probable career field, high school and the corporation sponsoring their award.
Patricia B. Walchessen of Clarendon Hills, medicine, Benet Academy, Pepsico Foundation Inc.
Arjun T. Reddy of Hinsdale, busines/entrepreneurship, Hinsdale Central, W.W. Grainger Inc.
John K. Reilly of Hinsdale, electrical engineering, Fenwick High School, Omron.
Anna M. McJohn of Western Springs, undecided, Lyons Township High School, BP Foundation Inc.
Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate sponsors provide National Merit Scholarships for finalists who are children of their employees, who are residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage.
Most of these 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.
