For 10 area high school seniors, paying for college just became easier.
The students from Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties will receive prestigious National Merit Scholarships from their choice college.
"It helps a lot to get any help that you can," said recipient Jack Hackett, a senior at Canterbury School in south Fort Myers. He plans to attend the University of Florida.
The scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 a year and the student receives the award for up to four years of undergraduate study.
The National Merit Scholarship program is a national academic competition that awards students for scholastic achievement.
Students are eligible to receive recognition after taking the PSAT, a precursor to the SAT college entrance test or the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
"It was a little surprising but exciting," said Kaitlyn Sarlo, a senior at Bishop Verot High School who also plans to attend Florida. "You take the SAT, but it's never in the front of your mind that you can win a scholarship."
Of 1.5 million applicants nationwide, only 50,000 students' scores are eligible for recognition. The applicant pool narrows to 15,000 finalists with 8,400 receiving scholarships.
Florida had 805 finalists this year with more scholarships to be awarded in July.
Students, in addition to achieving high test scores on the PSAT and SAT, must complete a scholarship application. The packet includes an essay, their academic record and teacher recommendations.
"It was easy," said Jose Quinonez, a senior at Bishop Verot who plans to attend the University of Miami. "The application was painless and easy to go through. It was a very nice process."
Being a National Merit Scholar finalist is an asset when applying to colleges.
"Colleges recognize it as a high honor," said Katie Williamsen, coordinator for public information at the National Merit Scholarship Corp. "Some colleges will award scholarships for the student's standing in the program."
"It's a good thing to have on a resume." said Quinonez. "I think it helps out a lot."
The three Collier County winners were from the Community School of Naples — George Ferguson, Lauren Raskauskas and Megan Schmelzle.
"It definitely helps," said Ferguson, who's receiving $2,000 annually from Washington University in St. Louis.
A science buff, Ferguson took Advanced Placement physics, chemistry and environmental science courses.
Raskauskas will also receive $2,000 a year from Washington.
She has aspired to become a doctor since middle school.
— Staff writer Christina Cepero contributed to this report.
