Ridgefield High School senior Asher Anderson has received a corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship, a competitive financial award that requires the student to have an outstanding academic record.
Anderson earned his Merit Scholarship due to his academic accomplishments, leadership qualities and dedication to excellence, a Ridgefield School District press release stated.
“This achievement is a force of enablement for me,” Anderson said in the press release. “Not only will the monetary reward help me pay for college, but I believe the title of National Merit Scholar, which I will carry forever, will benefit me in numerous ways in the future that I do not yet know.”
Anderson is a member of the high school’s Knowledge Bowl team, serving as the Varsity II team captain, and is the vice president of the school’s Robotics club, the press release stated.
Anderson is one of approximately 770 high school seniors, so far, who won the corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by corporations, company foundations and other business organizations. As a scholarship recipient, he will join nearly 375,000 other people who have earned the title of Merit Scholar.
By the conclusion of the 2024 competition, more than 6,870 finalists will be selected to receive National Merit Scholarships totaling nearly $26 million, the press release stated.
“I said it months ago when Asher was named as a finalist, but it bears repeating: In my 14 years in an educational leadership position, this is only the second time I’ve been able to present an award like this,” Ridgefield High School Principal Christen Palmer said in the release.
