The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced on June 3 that seventeen students from Pinellas County Schools have been awarded college-sponsored Merit Scholarships for 2026. The scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study, with recipients selected from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists.
A total of 138 higher education institutions are underwriting the awards this year, including 69 public and 69 private colleges and universities across 42 states and the District of Columbia. This announcement represents the third round of winners in the current National Merit Scholarship Program cycle.
Three additional Pinellas County students previously received National Merit $2,500 Scholarships in May. Another group of scholars will be named in July. By the end of this year’s competition, approximately 6,700 students nationwide will have earned National Merit Scholarships.
High school juniors entered the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in 2024. This test served as an initial screening tool for entrants into the scholarship program.
Pinellas County Schools serves as the official public school district for Pinellas County under its elected School Board and operates one of Florida’s largest networks with over 144 schools. The district ranks as ninth-largest in Florida and emphasizes academic achievement, innovation, student development, college preparation, career readiness, diverse magnet programs, and community enrichment, according to its official website.
