2 ETHS Students Awarded National Merit Scholarships

EVANSTON, IL — Two Evanston Township High School students were named winners of college-sponsored National Merit scholarships Wednesday. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the first group of about 4,100 recipients of the scholarships, which are selected by sponsor colleges from among 2019 National Merit finalists who plan to attend the schools.

Nicholas Marcotte, who intends to pursue a career in computer science, received a scholarship to University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Sophia Louise Noyes, who intends to pursue an acting career, received a scholarship to Grinnell College in Iowa.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is an Evanston-based nonprofit established in 1955. Most of its scholarship funding is provided by about 400 college and corporate sponsors. The college-sponsored scholarships provide between $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.

This year, National Merit expects to award more than $31 million to about 7,600 high school seniors. Last fall, it announced 11 Evanston Township High School seniors had qualified as semifinalists in the program. Earlier this spring, National Merit announced the winners of corporate-sponsored scholarships and the $2,500 scholarships from its own funds, including one to an ETHS student. The group plans to announce a second group of winners of college-sponsored scholarships in July.