Highland Park High School Student Awarded National Merit Scholarship

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A graduating high school senior from Highland Park has been named among the more than 2,900 winners of college-sponsored National Merit scholarships announced Wednesday.

This year, nearly 150 colleges and universities — 77 private and 72 public — are awarding between $500 and $2,000 a year for four years of undergraduate study.

Cooper Evans, of Highland Park, was awarded a National Merit scholarship sponsored by Carleton College, a private school in Northfield, Minnesota. Evans plans to pursue a career in the field of computer science, according to National Merit.

Evans was among the seven members of Highland Park High School's class of 2024 who were named National Merit semifinalists last fall based on the results of Preliminary SAT tests taken during their junior years, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the Evanston-based nonprofit that has administered the program since 1955.

All semifinalists were required to submit a detailed application with an essay and a recommendation from a high school official in order to become eligible for scholarships.

Earlier this spring, two HPHS seniors were named winners — one of a corporate-sponsored scholarship from a family member's employer and another of a $2,500 cash scholarship financed by National Merit.

This year's final group of National Merit scholarships — about 700 more recipients — is due to be announced on July 10. By then, nearly 6,900 recent high school graduates will have been awarded nearly $26 million in scholarships for their undergraduate studies.

Earlier: 7 Highland Park High School Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists