Deerfield Student Wins College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

DEERFIELD, IL — The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced more than 750 additional winners of college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships, including Charlie J. Marks, of Deerfield.

Marks, a student at Deerfield High School, is the winner of the National Merit Vanderbilt University Scholarship. His probable career field is finance.

Officials at each sponsoring college selected recipients from among National Merit Finalists who plan to attend their institution. The awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. This year, 138 colleges and universities are sponsoring more than 3,250 scholarships.

The latest announcement brings the total number of 2026 National Merit Scholars to about 6,500. Together, they will receive nearly $24 million in scholarships. The competition began with the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and more than 15,000 students ultimately reached Finalist standing.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, founded in 1955, is a nonprofit organization that administers the program with support from corporate and college sponsors.