Alexander White from IB Bartow has won a National Merit Scholarship.
White is the first National Merit winner from Polk County Public Schools for the 2025-26 school year. He was one of approximately 830 nationwide recipients of corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarships announced today.
The National Merit winners are “academically talented” high school seniors who are “judged to have the strongest combination of academic skills and achievements, extracurricular accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies,” according to program officials.
More than 6,900 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million will be awarded this year. Additional recipients will be announced in the months ahead.
PCPS had five National Merit semifinalists this year, and six winners in 2023-24.