IRMO, SC – Three more students from Lexington-Richland School District Five have been named winners of the prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarship, one of the highest academic honors for high school students nationwide.
Alyssa Marie Culver-Draper and Logan Rollins of Dutch Fork High School, along with Bella Qian of Spring Hill High School, are among the 2,500 Merit Scholar designees selected across the country. They were chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.
The National Merit $2,500 Scholarship is a one-time award that can be used at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university. Recipients are selected for their strong combination of academic achievements, leadership, and potential for success in rigorous college coursework. The number of recipients per state is based on the state’s proportion of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.
To qualify, students must complete a comprehensive application process, maintain an outstanding academic record, demonstrate leadership, and earn confirming scores on the SAT or ACT. The award is primarily financed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), with additional funding from corporations and private donations.
Earlier this year, Gavin Rittgers of Spring Hill High received a Snap-On Incorporated Scholarship, and Skye Veil of Dutch Fork High earned a Hubbell Foundation Scholarship, both part of the National Merit Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships.
Additional National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced on June 4 and July 14.
For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit www.nationalmerit.org.
