3 Manhattan Beach Students Win National Merit Scholarship

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Three Manhattan Beach students were awarded $2,500 scholarships for their well-rounded successes in school, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced on Wednesday.

Each student was judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in college. The scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors.

Manhattan Beach's winners include Kina Desai and Charles Hiatt, both from Mira Costa High School, and Justin Huebner from Vistamer School.

The committee considered the students' scores from the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, leadership in school and community activities, an essay written by the finalists and teacher recommendations.

This year's National Merit Scholarship Program began in October 2022 when high school juniors took the PSAT/NMSQT, which served as a screening for the entrants. The highest-scoring students in each state were named semifinalists, representing less than one percent of the nation's high school seniors.

Only 15,000 students moved on to become finalists based on their scores and other requirements. By the end of the 2024 program, more than 6,870 students will have earned the "Merit Scholar" title and nearly $26 million will be given to students.