Local Students Win National Merit Scholarships

Two students have won college-sponsored scholarships by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). 

Rebecca Holley, Music/Education, National Merit University of Rochester Scholarship     

Ian Van Pelt, biology, National Merit Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Scholarship.

The NMSC each year recognizes students from around the country for their high achievement on a standardized test, the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. 

College-sponsored Merit Scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. Nationwide, approximately 8,100 students have won Merit Scholarship awards in 2012. Fifteen other FCPS 2012 graduates have won college-sponsored Merit Scholarships.