11th Member Of New Trier Of Class 2024 Wins National Merit Scholarship

EVANSTON, IL — A recent New Trier High School graduate is among the final winners of a 2024 National Merit scholarship.

Tal Miller Belkind was awarded a scholarship to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology near Terre Haute, Indiana.

Belkind, of Wilmette, has a probable career field of computer science, according to Evanston-based National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which last week announced about 800 more winners of college-sponsored scholarships.

Sponsored by nearly 150 colleges and universities — 77 private and 72 public — the scholarships provide for up to four years of annual payments ranging from $500 to $2,000.

With the final group of winners, National Merit has this year awarded nearly $26 million to more than 6,900 students, according to the nonprofit that has administered the program since 1955.

In addition to about 3,700 scholarships specific to sponsoring colleges, the nonprofit awarded 2,500 scholarships worth a flat $2,500, while another 770 recent graduates received scholarships sponsored by corporations, which are often restricted to family members of employees.

Belkin was among the three dozen students from New Trier 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 National Merit.

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.

So far this year, seven New Trier seniors were awarded $2,500 cash scholarships from National Merit, two others were awarded college-sponsored scholarships and one was picked for a corporate-sponsored one.