Fifteen Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students have been named winners of Merit Scholarship awards by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The students are part of a group of more than 3,200 National Merit® finalists chosen to receive scholarships financed by higher education institutions.

Winners of the scholarships, with their probable career fields in parentheses, are:

• Elizabeth Ellinger of Langley High School (architecture), National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship.
• Emma Kohm of Langley High School (aerospace engineering), National Merit Embry-Riddle Scholarship.
• James Morrissey of Langley High School (undecided), National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship.
• Zipporah Klain of Madison High School (undecided), National Merit University of Chicago Scholarship.
• Noah Thompson of Madison High School (fine arts), National Merit Virginia Commonwealth University Scholarship.
• Melanie Pincus of McLean High School (writing), National Merit Tufts University Scholarship.
• Jason Katz of Robinson Secondary School (engineering), National Merit University of Oklahoma Scholarship.
• Emma Bachman of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) (environmental engineering), National Merit University of Oklahoma Scholarship.
• Sofiya Boroday of TJHSST (linguistics), National Merit University of Chicago scholarship.
• Emma Cuddy of TJHSST (physics), National Merit Harvey Mudd College Scholarship.
• Ishaan Gandhi of TJHSST (human rights), National Merit Harvey Mudd College Scholarship.
• Grey Golla of TJHSST (computer engineering), National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.
• Jillian Khoo of TJHSST (computer science), National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship.
• Alvin Shi of TJHSST (physics), National Merit University of Chicago Scholarship.
• Mary Jane MacArthur of West Springfield High School (international development), National Merit Brigham Young University Scholarship.

Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing activities, interests, and goals; SAT scores that confirmed outstanding test performance; and a recommendation and endorsement from a high school official. Each award provides between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the recipient’s scholarship.

The final group of NMSC scholarship recipients from the class of 2017 will be named in July.

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Note: For more information, contact the FCPS Office of Communication and Community Relations at 571-423-1200.