From David Volz
Cypress Bay High School senior Maria Claudia Barboza was named a College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship winner. Barboza was selected for the honor by the University of Miami, where she plans to pursue Biomedical Engineering. The announcement was part of a second wave of winners for this specific category and marks the final round of winners overall.
The scholarships recognize outstanding academic achievements and provide financial support for undergraduate studies. Each sponsor college chooses its recipient from the National Merit finalists who are planning to attend their institution. The awards range from between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years.
In addition to the College-Sponsored awards, the National Merit Scholarship Program includes the National Merit $2,500 Scholarships and Corporate-Sponsored awards. The combined total of all 2024 scholarships is nearly $26 million.
“We are incredibly proud of all our District’s winners in the National Merit Scholarship Program,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn. “This is a rigorous process that recognizes the remarkable academic talents and accomplishments of our high school seniors. In 2024, 25 of our best and brightest students were honored as National Merit Scholars, and we are excited for them to pursue the next chapter of their educational journey.”
