June 3, 2026 — Cobb Schools students continue to distinguish themselves among the nation's highest-achieving scholars, earning prestigious National Merit Scholarships that recognize academic excellence, leadership, and future potential.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation recently announced additional recipients in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, including winners of National Merit $2,500 Scholarships and college-sponsored Merit Scholarships. These announcements build on the corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarships awarded earlier this spring to four Cobb seniors, bringing additional national recognition to the district's highest-achieving students. These students join an elite group of approximately 6,700 seniors nationwide who will receive National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million.
The scholarships recognize students whose academic achievements, leadership, and commitment to excellence place them among the top high school seniors in the country.
National Merit $2,500 Scholarship Winners
Several Cobb students earned National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, which are awarded from the National Merit Scholarship Corp.'s funds to outstanding finalists nationwide.
Harrison High School
| Eugene Kang | Probable Career Field: Medicine |
| Anna Yang | Probable Career Field: Computer Science |
Walton High School
| Li-Yen Chou | Probable Career Field: Computer Science |
Pope High School
| Ishaan Kesar Marwaha | Probable Career Field: Computer Engineering |
Campbell High School
| Amulya Patil | Probable Career Field: Engineering |
Wheeler High School
| Vidya Sinha | Probable Career Field: Computer Science |
College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Winners
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. also announced college-sponsored Merit Scholarship recipients selected by participating colleges and universities. These awards provide $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the sponsoring institution.
University of Alabama Scholarship Recipients
| Nathan Cole Lawson | Wheeler High School | Probable Career Field: Mechanical Engineering |
| Sarah Sadegh | Kennesaw Mountain High School | Probable Career Field: Engineering |
Vanderbilt University Scholarship Recipients
| Carter Kopp | Lassiter High School | Probable Career Field: Orthopedics |
| Riley J. Sullivan | Lassiter High School | Probable Career Field: Engineering |
University of Georgia Scholarship Recipients
| John Mackay Leith | Wheeler High School | Probable Career Field: Software Engineering |
| Ameen H. Sayeed | Walton High School | Probable Career Field: Business |
Texas A&M University Scholarship Recipient
| Aubrey Seay | Walton High School | Probable Career Field: Industrial Engineering |
University of Texas at Dallas Scholarship Recipient
| Vishruthi Thiyagarajan | Walton High School | Probable Career Field: Materials Science |
The latest National Merit Scholarship announcements highlight the remarkable achievements of students across Cobb Schools. Representing eight high schools and a wide range of future career fields—including medicine, engineering, computer science, business, and materials science—these scholars exemplify the district's commitment to preparing students for success in college and beyond.
National Merit Scholarship winners are selected from a highly competitive pool of students nationwide. Recipients first qualify as National Merit finalists based on their exceptional PSAT/NMSQT performance, academic record, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. As these outstanding seniors prepare to begin the next chapter of their educational journeys, they carry forward a tradition of excellence that continues to make Cobb Schools a leader in academic achievement.
Congratulations to all of the 2026 National Merit Scholarship recipients for this extraordinary accomplishment!
