Holmdel Teen Named National Merit Scholar

HOLMDEL, NJ - One young Holmdel resident recently earned a college-sponsored scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Competition, the organization announced Wednesday.

Alexandra L. Emma of Holmdel High School received a National Merit Villanova University Scholarship, according to a news release from the organization. The honoree plans to study business at the university next fall.

Emma is among more than 3,100 winners receiving National Merit Scholarships sponsored by U.S. colleges or universities they plan to attend.

The prestigious annual competition judges high school students based on their PSATs and awards a number of scholarships during a student’s senior year. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state's percentage of the nation's graduating high school seniors.

The organization announced its $2,500 corporate scholarship winners in April and college-sponsored scholarships winners on June 2. Additional winners of college-sponsored awards will be announced on July 12.

Around 7,500 scholars will be named between the three programs, with over 3,100 scholars announced in June from a pool of 16,000 finalists. The college-sponsored awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

Other Monmouth County winners include:

• Deepak Gopalakrishnan, High Technology High School (Freehold)
• Ryan J. Glasser, High Technology High School (Manalapan)
• Navya Malhotra, Biotechnology High School (Manalapan)
• Aden A. Jasser, High Technology High School (Marlboro)
• Shruti Kedharnath, Biotechnology High School (Morganville)
• Rohan Wadhwa, Biotechnology High School (Morganville)

To be eligible for merit scholarship awards, finalists must submit a detailed scholarship application consisting of an essay, extracurricular resume and list of previous awards. They must also have an outstanding academic record and be endorsed by a high school official.

160 higher education institutions have sponsored awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program this year, consisting of 85 participating private and 75 public institutions located in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

By the conclusion of this year’s competition, about 7,500 academic champions will have been awarded National Merit Scholarships worth around $30 million.