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Ten Fairfax County Public Schools students representing five high schools have secured college-sponsored 2025 Merit Scholarship awards.

The students are among more than 2,900 National Merit Finalists selected nationwide for scholarships funded by higher education institutions.

The FCPS recipients, their anticipated career fields and awards are:

  • Nicolas Argueta-Vasquez, Edison High School, computer science — National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship.
  • Deen Noori, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, electrical engineering — National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.
  • Hudson John Keeler, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, mechanical engineering — National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.
  • Arnav Gupta, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, financial quantitative analysis — National Merit Indiana University Bloomington Scholarship.
  • Blake Powell, McLean High School, aerospace engineering — National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship.
  • Seth Parcell, Oakton High School, computer science — National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.
  • John Shinkman, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, international development — National Merit Grinnell College Scholarship.
  • Asha Das, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, intellectual property law — National Merit Tufts University Scholarship.
  • Andrew Wood, South Lakes High School, mechanical engineering — National Merit University of Texas at Dallas Scholarship.
  • Siddarth Kumar, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, aerospace engineering — National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.

Recipients were assessed on their academic records, essays, extracurricular involvement, honors and leadership experience. The selection process also considered SAT scores confirming strong test performance and recommendations and endorsements from high school officials.

Each scholarship provides $500 to $2,000 per year for as many as four years of undergraduate study at the college or university funding the award.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is expected to announce its final group of scholarship recipients from the class of 2025 in July.