The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a nonprofit organization that honors the scholastic achievements of high school students, has begun  to announce the winners in the 55th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Sarah Teplitsky, Gr. 12,  who was awarded a scholarship by Lockheed Martin.

In September, Harker News Online posted the names of the 50 Harker students who were semifinalists in this  competition, based on the scores they earned on their 2008 PSATs. Corporate-sponsored scholarship winners are the first group to be selected from the nation’s semifinalists who have advanced to the finals. National Merit-sponsored and college-sponsored scholarships will be announced in May and July.

Approximately 1,000  high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit scholarships financed by about 200 companies, foundations and other business organizations, according to the NMSC website.