Round Rock ISD is proud to announce the seniors throughout our district who have been named 2026 National Merit Scholars from Westwood, McNeil, Round Rock, and Stony Point high schools.
"This remarkable achievement by our National Merit Finalists is a testament to their years of relentless academic focus and the high standard of excellence we uphold across our district,” said Senior Chief of Schools and Innovations, Natalie Nichols. “We look forward to the incredible leadership and innovation they will bring to our global community."
Approximately 115 businesses fund this first round of recipients nationwide. Most scholarships are awarded as annual stipends ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with some students receiving an additional $2,500 or $10,000. Scholarships can be used at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
These seniors first entered this program as juniors, taking either the 2024 Preliminary SAT or the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists were selected based on each state’s share of graduating seniors. They then completed an application that included an essay and a form highlighting their achievements and extracurricular activities, along with their academic record, endorsements from school officials and qualifying SAT/ACT scores.
Round Rock ISD National Merit Scholarship Recipients:
Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholars
YuYan C. Westwood High School
Ryan Q. G. Westwood High School
Vasin S. Westwood High School
Josephine D. S. Westwood High School
Bhavani R. M. McNeil High School
Andrew S. Round Rock High School
Adrian P. U. Stony Point High School
These are the first recipients of the National Merit Scholars for 2026. Additional winners will be named on May 13, and college-sponsored Merit Scholarship recipients will be announced by July 13. By the conclusion of the 2026 competition, roughly 6,700 finalists from across the nation are expected to receive scholarships totaling nearly $24 million.
The district will update this story with additional names once they are released.