National Merit Scholarship: Calabasas Student Among Winners

CALABASAS, CA — One student from a Calabasas high school was among the 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners announced Wednesday. They were chosen from more than 15,000 finalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Zoe Cindy Beckman from Thousand Oaks was the winner from View Point High. Beckman plans to pursue a career in neuroscience.

The scholarship recipients were judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The committee includes college admissions officers and high school counselors.

More than 300 students were chosen in California. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

Scholars may use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

On April 19, 1,000 recipients of corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards were named, and on June 7 and July 17, another 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners will be announced.

— Patch staffer Bea Karnes contributed to this report.Photo via Shutterstock