National Merit Scholarships Include Distinguished Dallas Students

DALLAS —A first round of winners have been announced in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Nearly a thousand distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards — all financed by some 140 company foundations, corporations and other business organizations.

The roster of scholars was selected from applicants who advanced to the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and "met criteria of their scholarship sponsors."

According to the NMSC, the 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 can be renewed for up to four years of undergraduate college study. They also provide annual stipends ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per year. Some make a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000 possible, and recipients can use their awards at any university or regionally accredited college of their choice in the U.S.

This year's distinguished designees include:

Saransh Raina (CELINA) Prosper High School

Probable career field: Computer Science

NATIONAL MERIT NEW YORK LIFE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

New York Life Insurance Company is a Fortune 100 company and a top provider of new life insurance coverage in the nation. National Merit New York Life Family Scholarships are awarded to the children of company employees and agents. The New York Life Foundation, which makes these scholarships possible, also supports education through its matching gift program.

Sidhaart Palaniappan (COPPELL) Coppell High School

Probable career field: Biomedicine

NATIONAL MERIT TEXTRON SCHOLARSHIP

Textron Inc., through the Textron Charitable Trust, provides scholarships annually to children of employees of its divisions and consolidated subsidiaries. Textron is a multi-industry company based in Providence, Rhode Island, with operations focused in three business sectors--aerospace technology, commercial products, and financial services.

Anna K. Gregory (DALLAS) of Highland Park High School

Probable career field: Entrepreneurship

NATIONAL MERIT - THE PWC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

The PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc., a section 501(c)(3) organization, is powered by the knowledge, interests and goodwill of our people. It supports our people when in need and invests in emerging solutions to society's greatest challenges in education
and humanitarianism.

Jose Mendoza (DALLAS) of the School for the Talented and Gifted

Probable career field: Aerospace Engineering

NATIONAL MERIT JERRY R. JUNKINS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

As one of the world's leading high technology companies, Texas Instruments and its employees have strong commitments to supporting excellence in education at all levels. To recognize and reward educational excellence and achievement by our students and their families, each child of a TI employee who achieves Finalist status in the National Merit Program is awarded a TI Foundation-sponsored Merit Scholarship award.

Vatsal V. Vemuri (DALLAS) of St. Mark's School of Texas

Probable career field: Biochemistry

NATIONAL MERIT JERRY R. JUNKINS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

As one of the world's leading high technology companies, Texas Instruments and its employees have strong commitments to supporting excellence in education at all levels. To recognize and reward educational excellence and achievement by our students and their families, each child of a TI employee who achieves Finalist status in the National Merit Program is awarded a TI Foundation-sponsored Merit Scholarship award.

Charlie B. Zhang (DALLAS) of St. Mark's School of Texas

Probable career field: Business

NATIONAL MERIT UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

USAA, a world-wide insurance company serving military officers and their families and now with financial services open to the general public, sponsors this award for children of employees. USAA's concern for higher education is also reflected in the company's college matching fund and tuition reimbursement programs. In addition, USAA maintains annual grants and ROTC scholarships at various colleges and universities throughout the nation.

Ashwin Katta (EULESS) of Colleyville Heritage High School

Probable career field: Medicine

COLLEYVILLE NATIONAL MERIT STATE FARM COMPANIES FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

The State Farm Companies Foundation believes in developing visionary youth through the power of education. Each spring, the Foundation awards 100 scholarships to legal dependents of employees, agents, and retirees of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (State Farm®). State Farm Companies Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation funded by State Farm, the largest auto insurer in the U.S.

Elise C. Sibley (FATE) of Rockwall-Heath High School

Probable career field: Medicine

NATIONAL MERIT RSM US LLP SCHOLARSHIP

RSM's purpose is to deliver the power of being understood to our clients, colleagues and communities through world-class audit, tax and consulting services focused on middle market businesses. With more than 9,000 people in over 90 offices across the U.S., we are proud to invest in the future of our employees' children and our society through our Merit Scholarship awards. They are an important component of our commitment to build tomorrow's leaders.

Shashank Iswara (FLOWER MOUND) of Flower Mound High School

Probable career field: Academia

NATIONAL MERIT NEW YORK LIFE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

New York Life Insurance Company is a Fortune 100 company and a top provider of new life insurance coverage in the nation. National Merit New York Life Family Scholarships are awarded to the children of company employees and agents. The New York Life Foundation, which makes these scholarships possible, also supports education through its matching gift program.

Sanjana R. Poonuru (FLOWER MOUND) of Flower Mound High School

Probable career field: Biochemistry

NATIONAL MERIT UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

USAA, a world-wide insurance company serving military officers and their families and now with financial services open to the general public, sponsors this award for children of employees. USAA's concern for higher education is also reflected in the company's college matching fund and tuition reimbursement programs. In addition, USAA maintains annual grants and ROTC scholarships at various colleges and universities throughout the nation.

Shruti Vummadising (FLOWER MOUND) of Flower Mound High School

Probable career field: Business

NATIONAL MERIT BNSF RAILWAY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

BNSF Corporation operates one of the largest railroad networks in North America, with 34,000 route miles covering 28 states and two Canadian provinces. This network stretches from major Pacific Northwest and southern California ports to the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest, and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. BNSF supports Merit Scholarship awards for qualified children of Burlington Northern Santa Fe employees as part of its overall program.

Andrew C. Nober (FORT WORTH) of Fort Worth Country Day School

Probable career field: Politics

NATIONAL MERIT BNSF RAILWAY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

BNSF Corporation operates one of the largest railroad networks in North America, with 34,000 route miles covering 28 states and two Canadian provinces. This network stretches from major Pacific Northwest and southern California ports to the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest, and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. BNSF supports Merit Scholarship awards for qualified children of Burlington Northern Santa Fe employees as part of its overall program.

Theodore J. Perryman (FORT WORTH) of Trinity Valley School

Probable career field: Business

NATIONAL MERIT TEXTRON SCHOLARSHIP

Textron Inc., through the Textron Charitable Trust, provides scholarships annually to children of employees of its divisions and consolidated subsidiaries. Textron is a multi-industry company based in Providence, Rhode Island, with operations focused in three business sectors--aerospace technology, commercial products, and financial services.

Jin-Zi A. Danjul (FRISCO) of Independence High School

Probable career field: Computer Science

NATIONAL MERIT RAYTHEON SCHOLARSHIP

Raytheon Company is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security, and civil markets throughout the world. Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, and capabilities in various areas: sensing; effects; command, control, communications and intelligence systems; cybersecurity; and a broad range of mission support services.

Andrew G. Davison (FRISCO) of Legacy Christian Academy

Probable career field: Finance

NATIONAL MERIT PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP SCHOLARSHIP

The Principal Financial Group is a global investment management leader offering retirement services, insurance solutions and asset management. The Principal sponsors National Merit Scholarship awards for dependents of employees of The Principal and its affiliates. The Principal also makes education-related contributions to support student scholarships and numerous academic programs around the country.

Akhil Vinjamaram (FRISCO) of Centennial High School

Probable career field: Business

NATIONAL MERIT AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION SCHOLARSHIP

AmerisourceBergen is the largest pharmaceutical services company in the United States dedicated solely to the pharmaceutical supply chain. It is the leading distributor of pharmaceutical products and services to the hospital systems/acute care market, alternative care facilities, independent community pharmacies, and regional chains. The company is also a leader in the institutional pharmacy marketplace. Headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, AmerisourceBergen employs more than 13,000 people serving over 25,000 customers.