On April 17, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) released the names of the first group of winners in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. More than 1,000 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 160 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations.

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.

• Brandon Z. Chen, Plano West Senior High School, National Merit Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. Scholarship
  Probable career field: Undecided
  Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.® (JHA) is a leading provider of technology solutions and payment processing services primarily for the financial services industry. At JHA, we strive to "do the right thing" in everything we do, both personally and professionally. JHA is a proud supporter of higher education and is pleased to give back to our Associates and their children through the National Merit Scholarship Program.
• Thomas H. Dang, Plano East Senior High School, National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship
  Probable career field: Public Health
  As one of the world's leading high technology companies, Texas Instruments and its employees have strong commitments to supporting excellence in education at all levels. To recognize and reward educational excellence and achievement by our students and their families, each child of a TI employee who achieves finalist status in the National Merit Program is awarded a TI Foundation-sponsored Merit Scholarship award.
• Sujai Hiremath, Plano East Senior High School, National Merit Raytheon Scholarship
  Probable career field: Biomedical Engineering
  Raytheon Company is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and capabilities in various areas: sensing; effects; command, control, communications and intelligence systems; cybersecurity; and a broad range of mission support services.
• Kenneth Huang, Plano Senior High School, National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship
  Probable career field: Applied Mathematics
  As one of the world's leading high technology companies, Texas Instruments and its employees have strong commitments to supporting excellence in education at all levels. To recognize and reward educational excellence and achievement by our students and their families, each child of a TI employee who achieves finalist status in the National Merit Program is awarded a TI Foundation-sponsored Merit Scholarship award.
• Jacob N. Lunt, Plano Senior High School, National Merit Bunzl USA, LLC Scholarship
  Probable career field: Law
  Bunzl USA, LLC is part of an international group of companies which distributes paper and plastic-based disposable products and produces industrial and consumer plastic products, filters and instrument testing and measuring equipment. Scholarships are awarded to children of employees of Bunzl USA, LLC and its subsidiaries.
• Sohni Patel, Plano West Senior High School, National Merit Occidental Petroleum Corporation Scholarship
  Probable career field: Medicine
  The Occidental Petroleum Charitable Foundation supports Merit Scholarship awards for the children of approximately 7,100 employees of Occidental Petroleum Corporation, its subsidiaries, and divisions. Occidental Petroleum Corporation's two principal businesses consist of an oil and gas segment which explores for, develops, produces and markets crude oil and natural gas and a chemical segment which manufactures and markets basic chemicals, vinyls and performance chemicals.
• Zoe M. Pitts, Plano West Senior High School, National Merit Raytheon Scholarship
  Probable career field: Elementary Education
  Raytheon Company is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and capabilities in various areas: sensing; effects; command, control, communications and intelligence systems; cybersecurity; and a broad range of mission support services.
• Andy Qiao, Plano West Senior High School, National Merit United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Scholarship
  Probable career field: Medicine
  USAA, a world-wide insurance company serving military officers and their families and now with financial services open to the general public, sponsors this award for children of employees. USAA's concern for higher education is also reflected in the company's college matching fund and tuition reimbursement programs. In addition, USAA maintains annual grants and ROTC scholarships at various colleges and universities throughout the nation.
• Sasha N. Scott, Plano East Senior High School, National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship
  Probable career field: Forensics
  As one of the world's leading high technology companies, Texas Instruments and its employees have strong commitments to supporting excellence in education at all levels. To recognize and reward educational excellence and achievement by our students and their families, each child of a TI employee who achieves finalist status in the National Merit Program is awarded a TI Foundation-sponsored Merit Scholarship award.
• Autumn Y. Tan, Plano West Senior High School, National Merit Southwest Airlines Co. Scholarship
  Probable career field: Computer Science
  Founded in 1971 and now the fourth largest carrier in the United States (in terms of domestic customers carried), Southwest Airlines is the only major short-haul, low-fare, high-frequency, point-to-point carrier. Southwest has received recognition as one of the best companies to work for in America and the most admired airline in the world. Southwest recognizes the outstanding scholastic accomplishments of the daughters and sons of its employees who achieved finalist status in the National Merit Program.
• Joanna N. Vo, Plano East Senior High School, National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship
  Probable career field: Academia
  As one of the world's leading high technology companies, Texas Instruments and its employees have strong commitments to supporting excellence in education at all levels. To recognize and reward educational excellence and achievement by our students and their families, each child of a TI employee who achieves finalist status in the National Merit Program is awarded a TI Foundation-sponsored Merit Scholarship award.
• Jett Z. Wang, Plano West Senior High School, National Merit AmerisourceBergen Corporation Scholarship
  Probable career field: Computer Programming
  AmerisourceBergen is the largest pharmaceutical services company in the United States dedicated solely to the pharmaceutical supply chain. It is the leading distributor of pharmaceutical products and services to the hospital systems/acute care market, alternative care facilities, independent community pharmacies and regional chains. The company is also a leader in the institutional pharmacy marketplace.
• Juliana Yu, Plano West Senior High School, National Merit Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship
  Probable career field: Business
  As one of the world's leading high technology companies, Texas Instruments and its employees have strong commitments to supporting excellence in education at all levels. To recognize and reward educational excellence and achievement by our students and their families, each child of a TI employee who achieves finalist status in the National Merit Program is awarded a TI Foundation-sponsored Merit Scholarship award.

NMSC will name recipients of National Merit® $2500 Scholarships on May 8, and winners of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards on June 5 and July 15. By the conclusion of this year’s competition, about 7,600 academic champions will have won National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million.