Jay Parikh, a senior at Clark High School, and Raj Patel, a senior at the West Career and Tech Academy have won the 2020 corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship winner.  Parikh is planning to pursue a degree in Neuroscience, while Patel is undecided on his college major at this time. 

The funding for the Parikh’s and Patel’s scholarship comes from the Walgreen Company, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing drugstore chain and the industry leader in sales, profits, and technology use.

Both Parikh and Patel were selected from students who advanced to the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate sponsors provide National Merit Scholarships for Finalists who are children of their employees, who are residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage.

Most of these awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.