National Merit Scholars In Monmouth County Make The Grade

FREEHOLD, N.J.— The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced this year’s National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners, including several students in Monmouth County.

The $2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program, according to a statement from the program. All scholarships are underwritten by the National Merit Scholarship Foundation, except where indicated. The awards are one-time scholarships.

In Monmouth County winners were:

Jordan E. Lombardi, Atlantic Highlands, Henry Hudson Regional High School, Highlands; probable career field: science journalism; scholarship underwritten by 3M Co.

Caroline E. Cashman, Bradley Beach, Trinity Hall, Middletown; probably career field: mathematics.

Shreshth Rajan, Freehold, Manalapan High School; probable career field, medicine.

Tienne K. Yu, Freehold, Biotechnology High School, Freehold; probable career field: medicine.

Sejal Chaudhri, Holmdel, Academy of Allied Health and Science, Neptune; probable career field, surgical medicine.

Kyra M. Santhana, Holmdel, Holmdel High School; probable career field, finance.

Daniel Bossett, Howell, Freehold High School, Freehold; probable career field, mechanical engineering.

Apollo W. Lee, Manalapan, High Technology High School, Middletown; probable career field, electrical engineering.

Emily Gao, Marlboro, Marlboro High School; probable career field, biomedicine.

Emily Luo, Marlboro, High Technology High School, Middletown; probable career field, engineering.

Anita Osuri, Marlboro, Biotechnology High School, Freehold; probable career field, healthcare

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.

These scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the
finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level 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.

In addition, corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship winners from Monmouth County include:

Nathan G. Shenkerman, Englishtown, Manalapan High School; probable career field, neuroscience; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Rayan R. Jawa, Holmdel, Holmdel High School; probable career field, medical research; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Angela Shen, Holmdel, Holmdel High School; probable career field, applied mathematics; Colgate-Palmolive Co.

Cheryl Jeffrey, Marlboro, Biotechnology High School, Freehold; probable career field, medicine; Broadridge Co.

Rhea S. Kripalani, Marlboro, High Technology High School, Middletown; probable career field, computer science; Commvault Co.

Approximately 1,000 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National
Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 136 corporations, company foundations, and other
business organizations.

Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the Finalist level in the National
Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate sponsors
provide National Merit Scholarships for Finalists who are children of their employees, who are
residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the
sponsor wishes to encourage.

Most of these awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study
and provide annual stipends that range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year. Some provide a single
payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited
U.S. college or university of their choice.

Send local news tips to Pat McDaniel at patricia.mcdaniel@patch.com.