National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced this year’s National Merit $2500 scholarship winners. The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were

chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.

National Merit $2500 scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

Among those selected were Zoe Petropoulos who attends La Cañada High School and whose probable field is mechanical engineering; Cecillia Haeun Kim who attends Village Christian High School and whose probable field is law; Alex G. MacMillan who attends Crescenta Valley High School and whose probable career field is wildlife conservation; and Airin Avanesian who attends Verdugo Hills High School and whose probable career field is neurology. All scholarships were supported by National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s funds.

These scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.