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May 10, 2024 · Public Education Department

NEWS RELEASE: 17 New Mexico seniors receive National Merit $2,500 Scholarship

For Immediate Release

Contact: Janelle Taylor Garcia, Ph.D.

Deputy Director of Communications

New Mexico Public Education Department

505-709-5543

janelle.garcia@ped.nm.gov

May 10, 2024

17 New Mexico seniors receive National Merit $2,500 Scholarship

SANTA FE, N.M. – Earlier this week, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of 17 National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners from New Mexico.

"Congratulations to these exceptional seniors for securing the $2,500 scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation,” said New Mexico Public Education Secretary Arsenio Romero. “It is especially exciting to see so many award recipients interested in STEM career fields. I salute their innovative spirit and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Their journey ahead promises to be one of groundbreaking discoveries and transformative impact."

Selected as winners of the National Merit $2,500 Scholarship are:

Benjamin C. Bandy

Probable career field: Entrepreneurship

Next Gen Academy, Albuquerque

Tiffany L. Tausch

Probable career field: Mechanical Engineering (Robotics), Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque

Iris M. Eisenman

Probable career field: Academia

Eldorado H. S., Albuquerque

Ariana C. Thiel-Hadjilambrinos

Probable career field: Biophysics

La Cueva H. S., Albuquerque

Alexander S. Goss

Probable career field: Medicine

Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque

Aileen A. Ukwuoma

Probable career field: Pediatric Neurosurgery

Early College Academy, Albuquerque

Uzair Hammad

Probable career field: Computer Science

Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque

Michael S. Dryga

Probable career field: Medicine

V. Sue Cleveland H. S., Rio Rancho

Seth A. Klein

Probable career field: Civil Engineering

Hope Christian School, Albuquerque

Paige M. Nitti

Probable career field: International Law

Explore Academy, Albuquerque

Aimee Denelle Linebarger

Probable career field: Electrical Engineering

Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science, Albuquerque

Graciela A. Rodriguez

Probable career field: Physics

V. Sue Cleveland H. S., Rio Rancho

Akansha Nanda

Probable career field: Medicine

Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science, Albuquerque

Annalee E. Auer

Probable career field: Undecided

Santa Fe H. S., Santa Fe

Abhishek Narahari

Probable career field: Diplomatic Service

Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque

Natalia Sabato

Probable career field: Diplomatic Service

Academy For Technology and the Classics, Santa Fe

Shayan N. Tarefder

Probable career field: Electrical Engineering

La Cueva H. S., Albuquerque

Last month, eight New Mexico seniors received corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards.

By the conclusion of the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program competition, more than 6,870 finalists will have been selected to receive National Merit Scholarships totaling nearly $26 million.

2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was founded in 1955 specifically to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. The majority of scholarships offered each year are underwritten by approximately 320 independent corporate and college sponsors that share NMSC’s goals of honoring scholastically talented youth and encouraging academic excellence at all levels of education.

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The New Mexico Public Education Department partners with educators, communities and families to ensure that all students are healthy, secure in their identity and holistically prepared for college, career and life. Currently, NMPED serves about 320,000 students in 189 districts and charter schools. Find an abundance of resources for administrators, educators, families and students at New Mexico Public Education Department (state.nm.us) or follow the NMPED on Facebook and Instagram .

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