Plano ISD proudly celebrates 14 outstanding students who have been named recipients of corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarships as part of the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. These scholars are among approximately 830 students nationwide recognized for their academic excellence, leadership and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The awards are funded by approximately 124 corporations, company foundations, and business organizations. Recipients were selected from a pool of Finalists who met the criteria of their respective sponsors, including intended college major, geographic region or parent employment affiliation. Scholarships range from single payments of $2,500–$5,000 to renewable awards providing $1,000–$10,000 per year.

The following Plano ISD students were selected as 2025 National Merit corporate-sponsored scholarship recipients:

• Keon Z. Attarha, Plano West Senior High School – National Merit Siemens Scholarship

• Akshay A. Bhaskar, Plano West Senior High School – National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship

• Joshua T. Bellegante, Plano East Senior High School – National Merit State Farm Companies Foundation Scholarship

• Eshaan Chachad, Plano West Senior High School – National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship

• Muhsin A. Chowdhury, Plano East Senior High School – National Merit Air Liquide America Scholarship

• Evelyn S. Ding, Plano West Senior High School – National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship

• Aaron T. Foo, Plano East Senior High School – National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship

• Anshul M. Khandekar, Plano West Senior High School – National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship

• Jiahe D. Liu, Plano West Senior High School – National Merit United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Scholarship

• Justin J. Liu, Plano West Senior High School – National Merit Siemens Scholarship

• Nathan K. Nalla, Plano East Senior High School – National Merit PepsiCo Foundation Scholarship

• Arjun Ramakanth, Plano East Senior High School – National Merit PepsiCo Foundation Scholarship

• Henry T. Vo, Plano East Senior High School – National Merit Walgreen Co. Scholarship

• William H. Xie, Plano West Senior High School – National Merit Astellas Pharma US, Inc. Scholarship

This marks the first of three announcements by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) for the 2025 competition. Additional announcements, including National Merit $2500 Scholarships and college-sponsored Merit Scholarships, will be released in May, June and July.

By the conclusion of the program, over 6,930 students nationwide will have been awarded National Merit Scholarships totaling nearly $26 million.