Gwinnett County Public Schools seniors awarded National Merit $2,500 Scholarships

     Seven Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) seniors have been named 2026 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships recipients. Sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation® (NMSC), the scholarship will help fund the students' college education expenses. The awardees are a part of a group of distinguished students nationwide judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners from Gwinnett are: 

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology

Minh T. Nguyen

Probable career field: Computer Science

Lanier High School

William J. Simms

Probable career field: Computer Science

North Gwinnett High School

Shane Chailektrattanakul

Probable career field: Medical Research

Annabelle S. Kim

Probable career field: Academia

Ethan S. Yoon

Probable career field: Law

Parkview High School

Jaden T. Ha

Probable career field: Mechanical Engineering

Peachtree Ridge High School

Nichole S. Chen

Probable career field: Applied Mathematics

     The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC). 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 (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

     NMSC finances most of these single-payment National Merit $2,500 Scholarships. Corporations and company foundations that sponsor awards through NMSC help underwrite these scholarships with grants they provide in lieu of paying administrative fees. Donations made to NMSC’s President’s Fund also provide funding for some National Merit $2,500 Scholarship awards. Scholars may use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

     This is the second announcement of winners in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. On April 22, about 700 recipients of corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards were named, and on June 3 and July 13, some 3,500 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners will be announced. By the conclusion of this year’s competition, about 6,700 academic champions will have won National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $24 million.