Wilmette, Kenilworth Students Among 2026 National Merit Scholarship Winners

WILMETTE-KENILWORTH, IL — Five students from Wilmette and Kenilworth were awarded $2,500 scholarships each for their well-rounded successes in school, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced on Wednesday.

Each student was judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in college. The scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors.

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In Wilmette, Ella Kittikamron-Mora, Catherine Ji and Ritvik Goyal won the National Merit Scholarship. In Kenilworth, Julia Dale and Blake O'Donnell won National Merit Scholarships. All five students attend New Trier Township High School

The committee considered the students' scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, leadership in school and community activities, an essay written by the finalists, and teacher recommendations.

This year's National Merit Scholarship Program began in October 2024 when high school juniors took the PSAT/NMSQT, which served as a screening for the entrants. The highest-scoring students in each state were named semifinalists, representing less than one percent of the nation's high school seniors.

Only 15,000 students moved on to become finalists based on their scores and other requirements. By the end of the 2026 program, more than 6,700 students will have earned the "Merit Scholar" title, and nearly $24 million will be given to students.