Ridge High School Student Wins National Merit Corporate Scholarship

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — One Ridge High School student was named a winner of the 2026 National Merit Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarship.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) released the names of the first group of winners on April 22, in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Around 700 high school seniors won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards nationally financed by about 115 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations.

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

Corporations provide annual stipends that range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year, for up to four years of undergraduate study. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000.

Students can use the awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.

Here is the winner from Basking Ridge:

Arnob Mitra

• Probable career field: Engineering
• School: Ridge High School
• Corporation: Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation

The judges looked at grades, the difficulty of courses, standardized test scores, contributions and leadership both in school and in the community, an essay, and a recommendation from a high school official.

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