3 Highland Park Seniors Awarded Cash National Merit Scholarships

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Three high school seniors from Highland Park, including two from Highland Park High School, were awarded $2,500 cash scholarships last week from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

The students are among 2,500 scholarship winners to receive cash scholarships from National Merit's own funds. The number of winners in each state is proportional to the state's share of the total number of graduating seniors in the nation, according to the Evanston-based nonprofit.

Jordyn T. Jaffe, of Highland Park High School, has a probable career field in computer science.

Ari J. Nathanson, of Highland Park High School, has a probable career field in economics.

Eyal Noy, of Rochelle Zell Jewish High School in Deerfield, has a probable career field in physics.

According to National Merit, winning students are those that are found to possess "the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies." The single-payment scholarships can be used at any accredited college or university in the country.

Winners are picked based on results from the preliminary SAT, roles in school and extracurricular activities, a recommendation from a school official and a student essay.

In addition to the $2,500 scholarships, National Merit distributes corporate-sponsored and college-sponsored scholarships.

The winners of the corporate-sponsored scholarships were announced last month. And the approximately 4,000 winners of the college-sponsored scholarships are set to be announced in June and July.

By the time the 2022 program is complete, about 7,500 merit scholars will have been allocated about $28 million in scholarship to attend U.S. colleges and universities.

Related:

• 10 HPHS Students Named National Merit Semifinalists
• HPHS Senior Awarded College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship