9 area students win corporate Merit awards

Corporate sponsors provide scholarships for National Merit finalists who are children of their employees, are residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage.

The local winners are:

• Lauren E. Conger and Julianne M. Lussier of Salpointe Catholic High School, receiving the National Merit Raytheon Scholarship
• Carter R. Hesselink of Basis Oro Valley, receiving the National Merit Xerox Foundation Scholarship
• Scott M. McKinley and Mitchell J. Wagner of Ironwood Ridge High School, both receiving the National Merit Raytheon Scholarship
• Hannah C. Bergmann and Ethan Daniel Manninen of University High School, receiving the National Merit Raytheon Scholarship
• Grace E. Johnson of Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, receiving the National Merit Raytheon Scholarship
• Xochitl R. Longstaff of Basis Tucson North, receiving the National Merit Nelson F. Peterson Scholarship.

Most of the awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $500 to $10,000 per year. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000.