Forsyth County Grads Receive $2500 National Merit Scholarships

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA — The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Wednesday that 11 graduating seniors from Forsyth County have been awarded $2,500 scholarships as part of its 2020 program.

The scholarship winners are:

• Rithwik R. Guntaka, Denmark High School
  • Probable career field: Neurosurgery
• Julia E. Vallier, Forsyth Central High School
  • Probable career field: Chemical Engineering
  • NATIONAL MERIT EASTMAN SCHOLARSHIP
• Eric J. Ahn, Lambert High School
  • Probable career field: Engineering
• Akshat Gautam, Lambert High School
  • Probable career field: Computer Science
  • NATIONAL MERIT ADP HENRY TAUB MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
• Annie W. Pei, Lambert High School
  • Probable career field: Engineering
• Katherine S. Winters, Lambert High School
  • Probable career field: Environmental Engineering
  • NATIONAL MERIT MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS SCHOLARSHIP
• Vivian L. Su, Lambert High School
  • Probable career field: International Law
  • NATIONAL MERIT STATE FARM COMPANIES FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
• Tara H. Velappan, Lambert High School
  • Probable career field: Neuroscience
  • NATIONAL MERIT ADP HENRY TAUB MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
• Sweta Munagapati, South Forsyth High School
  • Probable career field: Neurosurgery
• Rithvik K. Rajavelu, South Forsyth High School
  • Probable career field: Computer Programming
  • NATIONAL MERIT ADP HENRY TAUB MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
• Arnav Rao, South Forsyth High School
  • Probable career field: Government Service
  • NATIONAL MERIT JAMES E. CASEY SCHOLARSHIP

National Merit $2,500 scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state's percentage of the nation's graduating high-school seniors. Georgia has 72 winners out of 2,500 nationwide.

Winners were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high-school counselors who judged information submitted by both finalists and their high schools: academic records, including difficulty of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist; and a recommendation written by a high-school official.

NMSC finances most of these single-payment National Merit $2,500 Scholarships. Corporations and company foundations that sponsor awards through NMSC also help underwrite these scholarships with grants they provide in lieu of administrative fees. Scholars may use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.