Two Broward seniors recognized among nation’s top academic scholars

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has announced the first group of winners in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program, with two standout students from Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) earning corporate-sponsored awards.

Alyssa Rapps, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and Ziyue Xu, a senior at Cypress Bay High School, were both selected as recipients of the National Merit Motorola Solutions Scholarship.

The two scholars were chosen from among finalists in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship competition who met the specific criteria set by their scholarship sponsor. Each year, approximately 115 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations fund these awards, supporting students who are children of employees, residents of communities they serve, or those pursuing fields aligned with the sponsors’ priorities.

Most corporate-sponsored scholarships are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study, with annual stipends ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Some awards are one-time grants valued between $2,500 and $10,000. Recipients may use their scholarships at any regionally accredited college or university in the United States.

Since its inception, the National Merit Scholarship Program has received more than $892 million in funding from corporate sponsors across nearly every sector of American industry, helping to support the academic development of high-achieving students nationwide.

Additional announcements from NMSC are expected in the coming months, including recipients of $2,500 National Merit Scholarships on May 13, 2026, and winners of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards on June 3 and July 13, 2026.