Two Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District seniors have earned national recognition for their outstanding academic achievement after being named recipients of 2026 National Merit Scholarships sponsored by higher education institutions. Among only eleven students selected in Orange County for college-sponsored National Merit awards, Valencia High School senior Noah Choi received a National Merit Scholarship from Pomona College, while Yorba Linda High School senior Mikayla Joyce Wang was awarded a National Merit Scholarship from the University of Southern California.
According to The Orange County Register, more than 2,500 students nationwide were selected to receive college and university-sponsored scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Program. This year, the program will distribute more than $24 million in scholarships funded by colleges, universities, corporations, company foundations, and business organizations to more than 6,700 students across the country. Scholarship recipients receive awards ranging from $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.
National Merit Scholarship recipients are selected through a highly competitive, multi-stage process. Students must first score among the top one percent of test-takers in their state on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). After advancing to finalist status, candidates are evaluated based on their academic performance, leadership experiences, school and community involvement, personal essays, and letters of recommendation.
The achievements of Choi and Wang reflect a sustained commitment to academic excellence and exemplify the high level of scholarship demonstrated by students throughout PYLUSD. Additional college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship recipients will be announced during a second round of awards in July.
Be the first to comment on "Valencia and Yorba Linda High School Seniors Recognized as National Merit Scholarship Recipients"