St. Charles Student Named National Merit Scholar

ST. CHARLES, IL — The National Merit Scholarship Corporation released the names of the first group of winners in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, which includes students from St. Charles.

According to the Evanston-based organization, approximately 830 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 124 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. Also included in this category are awards supported by several foundations and individual donors who have established endowments with NMSC.

The winner from St. Charles is Michael Granger, who attends Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora. He is planning to study computer science in college.

Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate sponsors provide National Merit Scholarships for Finalists who are children of their employees, who are residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage.

Most of these awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.