Two Merit Scholarship winners named Monday

Two more Kootenai County residents were named National Merit Scholarship winners Monday, bringing the county's total number of 2016 winners to six.

Elijah Reagan Robertson of Coeur d’Alene and Rohnin W. Randles of Rathdrum each received a National Merit Scholarship financed by the University of Oklahoma, where they both plan to attend in the fall.

Monday, 800 additional winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities joined the approximately 3,000 other college-sponsored award recipients who were announced in June.

Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from the finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program who will attend their institution.

“College-sponsored awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship,” a press release said.

About half of the 15,000 finalists were chosen to receive National Merit Scholarships.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her high school submitted a detailed scholarship application including an essay, academic record, details of school and community activity participation and demonstrated leadership abilities.

On top of the very thorough application, semifinalists had to perform admirably on a qualifying SAT test.

This year, 176 colleges and universities sponsored more than 3,800 Merit Scholarship awards.

The 800 winners announced Monday brings the number of 2016 National Merit Scholars to more than 7,300. The award winners, all high school graduates, will receive scholarships for undergraduate study worth a total of about $33 million.