Three Naperville students were among about 840 distinguished high school seniors earning corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by more than 100 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations.
This is the first round of Merit Scholarship recipients to be announced by the organization.
Neuqua Valley High School senior Aruv Dand, who plans to study computer science, received a scholarship from energy provider Southern Company.
Karthikeya Ramaraju, also a Neuqua Valley student who plans to study computer science, received an ADP Henry Taub Memorial scholarship.
More Top Picks Best Budget E Readers For Kids
Awards are funded by the ADP Foundation for the children of employees of ADP, one of the largest independent computing services in the United States.
Noah Rooney, a Naperville Central High School senior who plans to study actuarial science, received a Molex scholarship from the technology company. Awards recognize outstanding students who are the children of Molex employees.
Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met the criteria of their scholarship sponsors.
Corporate sponsors provide scholarships to finalists who are children of their employees, residents of communities the company serves or plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage.
Most of these awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year.
Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.