1 Local Student Awarded National Merit Scholarship

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — One local student has been named a recipients of a 2026 National Merit $2,500 Scholarship.

On Wednesday, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the recipients of its 2026 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, which honors 2,500 students nationwide who demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and potential for success in college, according to a news release. The winners were selected from more than 15,000 finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Huntley High School Senior Michelle M. Sobolewski, of Lake in the Hills, is among the students selected for a National Merit Scholarship. She plans to study medicine in college, according to the news release.

The number of scholarship winners in each state is determined proportionally based on the state’s share of graduating high school seniors.

“These Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors who reviewed a substantial amount of information submitted by Finalists and their schools,” the organization said in its announcement.

The $2,500 awards are single-payment scholarships funded primarily by NMSC, with additional support from corporate sponsors, foundations, and the organization’s President’s Fund. Recipients may use the funds at any regionally accredited college or university in the United States, according to a news release from the National Merit news release.

This announcement marks the second round of awards in the 2026 competition.

Earlier this spring, approximately 700 corporate-sponsored scholarships were named, with about 3,500 college-sponsored awards still to be announced in June and July. In total, roughly 6,700 students will ultimately earn National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million.