RI's College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship Winners

Seven high school seniors in Rhode Island were awarded National Merit Scholarships sponsored by their college or university. Across the country, more than 3,300 students earned the scholarships, which range from $500 to $2,000 for up to four years of undergraduate study. A second group of winners will be announced in July, bringing this year's national total to approximately 4,100.

The scholarships are funded by the individual institutions, which select the winners. This year, 167 colleges and universities are sponsoring financial awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program. There are 92 private and 75 public schools across 43 state and the District if Columbia.

More than 1.5 million juniors from approximately 21,000 high schools in the U.S. entered the program when they took the Preliminary SAT/National MeritScholarship Qualifying Test in 2018, which serves as the initial screening program. In the fall, the organization named 16,000 semifinalists. Those hoping to become finalists then had to submit a detailed application with information about leadership, extracurricular activities and awards, as well as write and essay and prove they had a stellar academic record.

Around 15,000 students were selected as finalized, approximately half of whom would go on to become winners this year.

Rhode Island's winners are listed below, alphabetically by city.

Kevin Zhu, Barrington

• Barrington High School
• Probable career field: Computer Science
• National Merit Northeastern University Scholarship

Jonas C. Kendra, Cranston

• Probable career field: Engineering
• Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick
• National Merit Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Scholarship

Christopher R. Teng, East Greenwich

• Probable career field: Computer Science
• East Greenwich High School
• National Merit Northeastern University Scholarship

Jonathan E. Benson, Portsmouth

• Probable career field: Mechanical Engineering
• Portsmouth High School
• National Merit Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Scholarship

William B. Bartel, Providence

• Probable career field: Aerospace Engineering
• La Salle Academy, Providence
• National Merit Villanova University Scholarship

Stephen A. Landry, Saunderstown

• Probable career field: Chemical Engineering
• North Kingstown High School
• National Merit Northeastern University Scholarship

Ishita Rai, Warwick

• Probable career field: Biochemistry
• St. Mary Academy - Bay View, Riverside
• National Merit Boston University Scholarship

READ MORE: 8 Rhode Island Students Win $2,500 National Merit Scholarships