East H.S. Student Alan Koval Wins National Merit Scholarship

ST. CHARLES, IL - St. Charles East High School student Alan Koval has been named a winner in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. Alan will be attending the University of Minnesota and he is the winner of the National Merit PPG Foundation Community Scholarship funded by the PPG Foundation. At Minnesota, Alan will be double-majoring in mathematics and computer science, according to a news release from District 303.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test–a test which serves as an initial screening of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements, according to a news release.

To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the materials provided to each semifinalist, according to a news release.

Winners of the National Merit Scholarship have their scholarships funded by either the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the institute of higher education that they select to attend, or by corporations or foundations who participate in the scholarship fund.