Walpole Student Receives National Merit Scholarships

WALPOLE, MA - A student from Needham has been awarded National Merit Scholarships in 2016.

The winners were recently announced by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists nationwide.

A committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors judged students from each state based on a combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in college.

Judges appraised finalists' academic record, standardized test scores, participation and leadership in school and community projects, an essay submitted by each student and a letter of recommendation from a high school official to determine the winners.

Each winner was awarded a $2,500 scholarship, financed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and grants from corporations and company foundations.

Here's a look at the Walpole student who received a scholarship:

Archana Apte

• School: Walpole High School
• Probable career field: Activism
• National Merit $2,500 Scholarship underwritten by the Liberty Mutual Scholarship Foundation.

Alex Newman contributed to this story.