KINNELON, NJ - A Kinnelon High School senior is among this year's National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners, announced May 13 as part of the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Zakary A. Kessler, who lists engineering as his probable career field, was selected from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists nationwide. The award is supported by National Merit Scholarship Corporation's own funds and may be used at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Recipients are evaluated by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors on academic record, PSAT/NMSQT scores, school and community involvement, a personal essay, and a recommendation from a school official.
The number of winners named in each state is proportional to that state's share of the nation's graduating high school seniors.
The 2026 competition began in October 2024 when high school juniors took the PSAT/NMSQT as an initial screening. The highest-scoring participants in each state — representing less than 1 percent of the nation's high school seniors — were named semifinalists. More than 15,000 of those students met the academic standards required to advance to finalist status.
By the conclusion of the 2026 program, about 6,700 finalists will have earned the Merit Scholar title and received a total of nearly $24 million in college scholarships.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1955, operates without government assistance. The majority of its scholarships are underwritten by approximately 300 independent corporate and college sponsors.
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