2 Hillsborough Students Win College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships For 2026

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Two Hillsborough students have earned the prestigious college-sponsored merit scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Competition for 2026, the organization announced.

Sonakshi Singhal of Hillsborough High School received a National Merit Rutgers The State University Of New Jersey Scholarship. Singhal plans to study finance at the university next fall.

Saanvi Trivedi of the Academy of Medical Health and Science received a National Merit Rutgers The State University Of New Jersey Scholarship. Trivedi plans to study medicine at the university next fall.

Both Hillsborough students are among more than 2,500 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the Finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution.

The chosen students will be awarded between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

An additional group of Scholars will be announced in July, bringing the total number of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship recipients in the 2026 competition to about 3,500.

Earlier this spring, NMSC announced the winners of corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards, which included one Hillsborough student. Read More: Hillsborough Student Wins National Merit $2,500 Scholarship

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com