2 Edison Seniors Win Corporate-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

EDISON, NJ — Two John P. Stevens High School seniors have been named 2026 National Merit Scholars, among approximately 700 students nationwide to receive corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarships in this year's competition.

Abhinav Senthilkumar's award is sponsored by LPL Financial, the nation's largest independent broker-dealer, which finances scholarships for children of its employees and customers. Senthilkumar plans to pursue a career in physics. Pranav Vemulapalli's award is sponsored by Broadridge, a leading financial services outsourcing provider, which finances scholarships for children of its associates as part of its commitment to higher education. Vemulapalli plans to pursue a career in computer science.

Corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarships are awarded to Finalists who meet criteria set by their sponsors — including being children of employees, residents of communities the company serves, or students pursuing majors or careers the sponsor wishes to support. About 115 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations finance awards in this category. Most scholarships are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study, with annual stipends ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, and recipients may use the award at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

To reach Finalist standing, students must first score among the highest in their state on the 2024 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test — a threshold fewer than 1% of U.S. high school seniors meet. Semifinalists then complete a detailed application including an essay, extracurricular activities, and leadership information, and must earn SAT or ACT scores confirming their qualifying performance.

When the 2026 competition concludes, approximately 6,700 Finalists will have received National Merit Scholarships totaling nearly $24 million.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a nonprofit founded in 1955, operates the program without government assistance. Since its founding, corporate and college sponsors have committed more than $892 million to support academically talented students nationwide.

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