Two BCPS Seniors Recognized Among Nation’s Top Academic Scholars

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has announced the first group of winners in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) proudly congratulates two outstanding students recognized as Corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship recipients:

• Alyssa Rapps, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, received the National Merit Motorola Solutions Scholarship.
• Ziyue Xu, a senior at Cypress Bay High School, also received the National Merit Motorola Solutions Scholarship.

These scholars were selected from among the finalists in the National Merit Scholarship competition who met the criteria of their respective scholarship sponsors. Approximately 115 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations sponsor the awards for students who are children of employees, residents of communities they serve, or those pursuing academic fields and careers the sponsors wish to encourage.

Most Corporate-sponsored awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study and provide annual stipends ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Some awards offer a one-time payment between $2,500 and $10,000. Recipients may use their scholarships at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

Funding for National Merit Scholarships is provided by corporate organizations representing nearly every sector of American industry. Since the program’s inception, sponsors have invested more than $892 million to support the academic development of the nation’s most talented students.

Additional announcements from NMSC will name recipients of National Merit $2,500 Scholarships on May 13, 2026, and winners of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards on June 3 and July 13, 2026.