National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced on Monday, July 13, more than 750 additional winners nationwide of National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities.
These Los Angeles County students join more than 2,500 other college-sponsored award recipients who were announced on June 3.
Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program who will attend their institution.
College-sponsored awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.
This year, 138 colleges and universities are sponsoring more than 3,250 Merit Scholarship awards. Sponsor colleges include 69 private and 69 public institutions located in 42 states and the District of Columbia.
Here is the list of the additional winners in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program in Los Angeles County by city, high school, and the college-sponsored scholarship they were awarded:
Agoura Hills
Agoura Hills High School: Garin Lieblich, Lehigh University
Brentwood
Heritage HS: James Aaron, Brigham Young University
El Segundo
Vistamar School: Mairin Mason Norman King, Harvey Mudd College
La Cañada Flintridge
La Cañada HS: Lila Mercer, Occidental College
Los Angeles
Notre Dame Academy: Jessica Emma Nishimuro, Case Western Reserve University
Rolling Hills Estates
Palos Verdes Peninsula HS: Nathan H. Choi, University of Southern California
Studio City
Harvard-Westlake School: Emma Tran-Lee, Harvey Mudd College
Torrance
West Torrance HS: Warren Shao, University of Southern California
Background of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation was established in 1955 and is an independent, not-for-profit group that does not operate with government assistance.
The goals of the organization are to reward academically-dedicated students, encourage academic excellence at all levels of education, promote a deeper respect for learning in general and to encourage individuals and organizations to sponsor scholarships.
The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who demonstrate “exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.”