Highland Park Student Awarded Cash Scholarships From National Merit

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A Highland Park High School student has been awarded a cash scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Elizabeth Smith, of Highland Park, plans to pursue a career in the field of neurology, according to National Merit.

The 2,500 winners of cash scholarships nationwide announced Wednesday was chosen by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors based on application materials from the students and their schools.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, an Evanston-based nonprofit founded in 1955, screens high schoolers based on their performance on the PSAT as juniors, with less than 1 percent of seniors qualifying on a state-representational basis. (Seven members of the HPHS class of 2024 were named semifinalists last fall.)

Earlier: 7 Highland Park High School Seniors Honored By National Merit

Of those, nearly 94 percent qualify as finalists. And by the summer, nearly 46 percent of the 15,000 finalists will be named merit scholars and awarded scholarships — sponsored either by businesses, colleges, or the nonprofit's own funds.

Last month, the nonprofit announced about 770 winners of corporate-sponsored scholarships offered by businesses, which are usually restricted to the families of employees.

Next month, about 3,600 winners of college-sponsored merit scholarships will be announced in two installments.

About 6,870 students will have been awarded a total of approximately $26 million worth of scholarships by the end of this year's program.

Related: Highland Park High School Ranked No. 21 Among Suburban Public Schools