Seven College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Winners Announced from Contra Costa County
PLEASANT HILL, CA — Seven students from Contra Costa County have been named recipients of National Merit Scholarships funded by U.S. colleges and universities, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced. These distinguished students are from Monte Vista High School in Danville and Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon.
The National Merit Scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the sponsoring institution. 149 higher education institutions are underwriting these awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program.
“Thank you to the school communities and families who supported and challenged these students to achieve this accomplishment,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “We are proud of these scholars for representing our County as National Merit Scholarship winners. These scholarships are highly competitive and require far more than just high-test scores. Your hard work has paid off, and we wish you the best as you embark on your college journeys."
The Contra Costa County students who have been awarded College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships are:
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Owen Chen, Monte Vista High School, Danville, CA – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
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Alice Jiang, Monte Vista High School, Danville, CA – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
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Emily M. Kalin, Monte Vista High School, Danville, CA – National Merit Purdue University Scholarship
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Prerita Babarjung, Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon, CA – National Merit University of Texas at Dallas Scholarship
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Dhruv Harinath, Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon, CA – National Merit Claremont McKenna College Scholarship
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Vaishnavi Kolluru, Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon, CA – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
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John Park, Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon, CA – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
The seven students now join 20 other Contra Costa County seniors who were named National Merit and National Merit Corporate-Sponsored Scholarship Winners earlier this year.
Each award recipient submitted a detailed scholarship application, including an essay and information on extracurricular activities, awards, and leadership roles. Their SAT or ACT scores were also considered, alongside academic records and recommendations from high school officials.
Of over 15,000 scholarship Finalists nationwide, about half will become Merit Scholarship winners in 2024. Scholarship recipients represent less than one percent of the nation's seniors and are among the highest-scoring program entrants from each state. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, awardees possess the strongest combination of academic skills, extracurricular achievements, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. During the 2024 competition, more than 6,870 academic champions will be selected for National Merit Scholarships, totaling about $26 million.
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About Contra Costa County Office of Education
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County (CCCOE) has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,225 students). Officially established in 1932, 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 286 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.