Polk County Public Schools has two more National Merit Scholarship winners this year.
Congratulations to Peter Dong from IB Haines City, and Bhavya Pinapala from IB Bartow.
Dong and Pinapala were among more than 2,900 winners of college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships announced today. Each award provides up to $2,000 annually at the institution financing the scholarship.
Dong’s scholarship is from the University of South Florida, and Pinapala’s scholarship is from the University of Florida.
PCPS now has four National Merit winners for 2024-25. The previously announced recipients were Madelyn Vido from IB Haines City, and Alexander White from IB Bartow. PCPS had six National Merit winners in 2023-24.
National Merit recipients are selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors. These “academically talented” high school seniors 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 approximately $26 million will be awarded this year. Additional winners will be announced in July.