5 Henrico students earn $2,500 National Merit Scholarships

NMSC finances most of the single-payment $2,500 scholarships, including all five of those awarded to students from Henrico schools. Corporations and company foundations that sponsor awards through NMSC also help underwrite some of the awards in lieu of paying administrative fees.

The Henrico students are:

• Isabella N. Kenney of Glen Allen (Maggie Walker Governor's School);• Sruthi Vegunta of Glen Allen (Maggie Walker Governor's School);• Aryan Mhaskar of Glen Allen (Mills Godwin High School); • Anooshka Pendyal of Glen Allen (Deep Run High School);• Benjamin Brackett of Richmond (Collegiate School).

The Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.