Ten students from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) have been recognized as winners of the 2025 Merit Scholarship awards by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). These students are among over 2,900 National Merit Finalists selected to receive scholarships funded by higher education institutions.
The scholarship recipients and their intended career fields are as follows:
– Nicolas Argueta-Vasquez from Edison High School, focusing on computer science, has been awarded the National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship.
– Deen Noori from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), with a focus on electrical engineering, received the National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.
– Hudson John Keeler from TJHSST, aiming for a career in mechanical engineering, also secured the National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.
– Arnav Gupta from TJHSST plans to pursue financial quantitative analysis and has been granted the National Merit Indiana University Bloomington Scholarship.
– Blake Powell from McLean High School is interested in aerospace engineering and was awarded the National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship.
– Seth Parcell from Oakton High School intends to study computer science and received the National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.
– John Shinkman from TJHSST is focused on international development and was awarded the National Merit Grinnell College Scholarship.
– Asha Das from TJHSST aims to specialize in law with a focus on intellectual property and received the National Merit Tufts University Scholarship.
– Andrew Wood from South Lakes High School plans to pursue mechanical engineering and secured the National Merit University of Texas at Dallas Scholarship.
– Siddarth Kumar from TJHSST is interested in aerospace engineering and received the National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.
The selection process for these scholarships considered each student’s academic record, an essay, extracurricular activities, awards, leadership roles, SAT scores confirming exceptional test performance, along with recommendations and endorsements from high school officials. The awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at sponsoring institutions.
The final group of NMSC scholarship recipients for the class of 2025 will be announced in July.
