Lemont High School Graduate Receives College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship

LEMONT, IL — On Monday, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced nearly 800 winners of National Merit scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities.

One of those winners is Woodridge resident and Lemont High School student Nora Thornber. Thornber received a National Merit Michigan State University Scholarship, and has a probable career field of actuarial science, according to National Merit.

These scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study, according to a release.

This year, 146 colleges and universities sponsored the Merit Scholarship awards. The winners announced today are part of a group of more than 7,100 high school graduates who will receive National Merit Scholarships for college undergraduate study worth nearly $26 million, according to a release.

To compete for Merit scholarship awards, students had to be named semifinalists based on scores of the PSAT/NMSQT. Then, they had to submit a detailed application, write an essay, earn qualifying SAT or ACT scores, and be endorsed and recommended by a high school official.