Encinitas Student Wins College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship

ENCINITAS, CA — Thirteen high school students in San Diego County, including a student from Encinitas, received college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Wednesday.

The San Diego area winners were among more than 2,900 high school seniors nationally who won awards financed by about U.S. colleges and universities. The awards range from $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years at the institution financing the scholarship.

The San Diego area winners include:

• Erin Weir, The Grauer School, Encinitas
  • College: Harvey Mudd College
  • Probable Career Field: Applied Mathematics
• Gabriel R. Whitby, San Pasqual High School, Escondido
  • College: University of Tulsa
  • Probable Career Field: Applied Mathematics
• Dillon Spiro, The Bishop's School, La Jolla
  • College: Tulane University
  • Probable Career Field: Chemistry
• Ethan Chin, The Cambridge School, San Diego
  • College: Harvey Mudd College
  • Probable Career Field: Medicine
• Leo Lesmes, Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego
  • College: Purdue University
  • Probable Career Field: Engineering
• Kirill Sergeevich Lutsenko, Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego
  • College: Texas A&M University
  • Probable Career Field: Mechanical Engineering (Robotics)
• Kayden A. MacIsaac, Mount Carmel High School, San Diego
  • College: University of Alabama
  • Probable Career Field: Mechanical Engineering
• Aneesh Nudurupati, Mount Carmel High School, San Diego
  • College: Florida Atlantic University
  • Probable Career Field: Medicine
• Noah Simon, Del Norte High School, San Diego
  • College: University of Southern California
  • Probable Career Field: Mechanical Engineering (Robotics)
• Carter Alejandro Simpson, Pacific Ridge School, San Diego
  • College: Vanderbilt University
  • Probable Career Field: Biotechnology
• Audrey Song, Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego
  • College: University of Southern California
  • Probable Career Field: Screenwriting/Directing
• Jason Zhang, Del Norte High School, San Diego
  • College: University of Southern California
  • Probable Career Field: Medicine
• Zachary White, Homeschool/Online School, Santee
  • College: The University of Alabama
  • Probable Career Field: Law

This year, 146 higher education institutions are underwriting awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Sponsor colleges and universities include 74 private and 72 public institutions located in 42 states and the District of Columbia.