PLEASANT HILL, Calif. — Three Contra Costa County students are among more than 3,000 recipients of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced.
These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. Some 153 higher education institutions are underwriting Merit Scholarship awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program.
The following Contra Costa County students were named National Merit Scholarship recipients:
Kian Kasad, California High School, San Ramon, CA – National Merit Purdue University Scholarship
Riyanka Narasimhan, Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon, CA – National Merit Vanderbilt University Scholarship
Matthew Lee, Berean Christian High School, Walnut Creek, CA – National Merit Florida State University Scholarship
“We are very proud of these three academic scholars for representing our County as National Merit Scholarship winners,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “These scholarships are extremely competitive and require a lot more than just high-test scores. Thank you, students, for your perseverance. Thank you also to the parents and educators who have supported and challenged students to reach their academic potential and strive for this incredible accomplishment.”
Kasad, Narasimhan, and Lee join eight other Contra Costa County seniors who were named National Merit Corporate-Sponsored Scholarship Winners in May.
Each award recipient submitted a detailed scholarship application, which included writing an essay and providing information about extracurricular activities, awards, and leadership positions. SAT or ACT scores were also factored into the judging, along with academic records, and recommendations from high school officials.
Of the scholarship recipients, more than 15,000 scholarship Finalists from across the nation met the requirements, and about half of them will be Merit Scholarship winners in 2023. Scholarship winners are among the highest-scoring program entrants from each state and represent less than one percent of the nation’s seniors. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, awardees have the strongest combination of academic skills and performance, extracurricular accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. During the 2023 competition, over 7,100 academic champions will have been selected for National Merit Scholarships totaling about $28 million.
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About Contra Costa County Office of Education
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County has the 9th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 158,401 students). Officially established in 1932, the CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of our county's most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.
CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county's 285 schools or
18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at
www.cocoschools.org.