Article Text
Nine Fairfax County Public Schools students are among more than 700 National Merit finalists selected nationwide for corporate-sponsored scholarships in 2026.
The local recipients and their anticipated career fields are:
- Sean Kim, Centreville High School, computer engineering — National Merit FTS International, LLC Scholarship
- Rohan Desai, Fairfax High School, computer science — National Merit Leidos, Inc. Scholarship
- Sarah Roelke, Lake Braddock Secondary School, public health — National Merit Dr. James R. Schlesinger Memorial Scholarship
- Risha Potluri, Langley High School, business administration — National Merit General Dynamics Corporation Scholarship
- Nicholas Lee, McLean High School, undecided — National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship
- Sophie Burrell, Oakton High School, mechanical engineering — National Merit General Dynamics Corporation Scholarship
- Ayush Tripathy, South Lakes High School, medicine — National Merit General Dynamics Corporation Scholarship
- Aidan Wright, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, chemical engineering — National Merit Dr. James R. Schlesinger Memorial Scholarship
- Rachel Du, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, computer science — National Merit Ellucian Scholarship
Corporations, company foundations and other business organizations finance the awards. Sponsors may select finalists who are employees’ children, live in communities served by the companies, or plan to pursue majors and careers the organizations want to support.
Some corporate-sponsored scholarships provide between $1,000 and $10,000 annually and can be renewed for as many as four years of undergraduate study. Others offer a one-time award ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
Recipients may apply the money toward their education at any regionally accredited college or university in the United States.