15 Bergen County Students Win Prestigious $2,500 National Merit Scholarships
the staff of the ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The results are in, and Bergen County continues to prove itself as an academic powerhouse. On Wednesday, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced a new round of winners, awarding 15 local high school seniors a prestigious $2,500 scholarship for their upcoming college careers.
These winners were selected from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists and represent the top 1% of high school seniors in the United States.
What is a National Merit Scholar?
To even be considered, these students had to excel in the PSAT/NMSQT during their junior year (October 2024). Beyond high scores, winners are chosen based on their:
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Academic record and difficulty of subjects studied.
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Demonstrated leadership and contributions to school and community.
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An essay and a recommendation from a high school official.
Unlike corporate or college-sponsored awards, these NMSC scholarships can be used at any accredited U.S. university, giving these local stars “no strings attached” support for their education.
The 2026 Bergen County Winner List
Here are the students from our community who have earned the title of National Merit Scholar, listed by hometown:
| Student Name | Hometown | High School | Career Interest |
| Ryan Patrick McCarthy | Allendale | Northern Highlands Regional | Finance |
| Christina Hur | Closter | Academy of the Holy Angels | Academia |
| Matthew D. Kang | Closter | Regis High School (NYC) | Medicine |
| Sarahsihu Kim | Englewood | Academy of the Holy Angels | Psychology |
| Alexander Kovalenko | Fair Lawn | Bergen County Academies | Materials Engineering |
| Nathaniel S. Marks | Leonia | Regis High School (NYC) | Judicature |
| Cristina Fuschetto | Oradell | Bergen Tech (Teterboro) | Neurosurgery |
| Aiden Hong | Palisades Park | Bergen County Academies | Computer Science |
| Michael Middlezong | Paramus | Bergen County Academies | Mathematics |
| Nicholas Underwood | Park Ridge | Park Ridge High School | Finance |
| Emily Park | Ridgewood | Ridgewood High School | Neurosurgery |
| Afua Anyadike | Teaneck | Bergen County Academies | Electrical Engineering |
| Edward S. Lee | Teaneck | Bergen County Academies | Sociology |
| Chang Yoon Kim | Tenafly | Tenafly High School | Business |
| Tate Kim | Upper Saddle River | Bergen County Academies | History |
A Strong Showing for Bergen County Academies
Once again, Bergen County Academies (BCA) in Hackensack led the pack with six winners, followed by the Academy of the Holy Angels and Regis High School, which each saw two local students take home awards.
What’s Next?
This is the second major announcement from the NMSC this year. While corporate-sponsored awards were announced in April, the final round—college-sponsored scholarships—is expected to be released next month.
Congratulations to all the students and families on this incredible achievement!
FAQ: National Merit Scholarships
How much is the National Merit Scholarship worth?
The NMSC-sponsored scholarships announced today are worth a one-time payment of $2,500. Other corporate or college-sponsored awards may vary in amount.
How do you become a National Merit Scholar?
Students must take the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year and score in the top 1% of their state to become Semifinalists. From there, they must meet high academic standards and submit an application to become a Finalist and, ultimately, a Scholar.
When are the next winners announced?
The NMSC will announce winners of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards in June 2026.
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