Orinda Student Receives National Merit Scholarship

LAMORINDA, CA — An Orinda student was among 69 high school seniors from California to be named recipients of corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarships this year, according to an April 26 announcement from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Alexander Aoki, a Miramonte High School senior whose probable field of study is astrophysics, was awarded a corporate-sponsored scholarship from the PwC Charitable Foundation. The nonprofit invests in emerging solutions to society's greatest challenges in education and humanitarianism.

Aoki was among the first group of recipients announced as part of the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

"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," the organization said in a news release.

Some of the scholarships provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Others provide annual stipends ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per year. The scholarships may be used at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

Nationwide, 840 high school seniors received merit scholarships financed by some 107 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations.

In 2023, there are 7,250 scholarships worth nearly $28 million being awarded in multiple rounds including scholarships underwritten by National Merit's own funds and by approximately 340 business organizations, colleges and universities.

Recipients of National Merit $2,500 Scholarships will be announced Wednesday, May 10.

Winners of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be announced June 7 and July 10.

Students entered the competition as juniors by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen for entrants.

By the conclusion of this year’s competition, more than 7,140 academic champions will have won National Merit Scholarships.