{"id":211,"date":"2010-09-27T18:40:34","date_gmt":"2010-09-27T18:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/webcom.dev.smca.ucf.edu\/wp3\/admissions\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T13:56:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T17:56:39","slug":"national-merit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/national-merit\/","title":{"rendered":"National Merit Scholarship Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container mt-4 mt-sm-5 mb-5 pb-sm-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"lead mb-5\">UCF is ranked among the top 20 colleges in the nation &#8211; 9th among public universities &#8211; and second in Florida for its number of enrolled National Merit Scholars. Our top-notch academic programs, competitive scholarship packages and exciting location attract some of the most talented and accomplished students from across the country.<\/p>\n<section id=\"packages-and-benefits\" class=\"auto-section\">\n<h2>Packages and Benefits<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row mt-4 mb-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"text-center\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/10\/National-Merit-600x725.jpg\" alt=\"male ucf student sitting outside\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"male ucf student sitting outside\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/10\/National-Merit-600x725.jpg\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-7 offset-lg-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\nYou will be considered for a scholarship upon admission to UCF if you are named a National Merit Semifinalist. If you advance to become a National Merit Finalist and designate UCF as your &#8220;first-choice&#8221; with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by the May 31 deadline, you will be considered for an increased award from UCF.\n<p>Florida residents who advance to become National Merit Finalists will be awarded the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/financial-aid\/types\/scholarships\/benacquisto\/\">Benacquisto Scholarship<\/a> in addition to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.<\/p>\n<p>Out-of-state National Merit Finalists are eligible for our competitive National Merit Scholarship package valued at more than $25,000 per year for four years.<\/p>\n<p>As a National Merit Finalist, you can apply for special benefits at UCF, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Guaranteed admission to <a href=\"https:\/\/honors.ucf.edu\/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Burnett Honors College*<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Guaranteed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.housing.ucf.edu\/\">on-campus housing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>*With application<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"visiting-campus\" class=\"auto-section\">\n<h2>Visiting the Campus<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row mt-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-4 push-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"text-center\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Teaching_Academy.png\" alt=\"ucf teaching academy with 2 students waking in the foreground toward the camera\" width=\"600\" height=\"550\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid alignnone lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20550%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"ucf teaching academy with 2 students waking in the foreground toward the camera\" width=\"600\" height=\"550\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Teaching_Academy.png\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-7 pull-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\nThe best way to learn about UCF is to visit us. National Merit Semifinalists have the opportunity to arrange a personalized, private visit to explore our campus. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/futureknight.apply.ucf.edu\/register\/nationalmeritvisit\">schedule a visit<\/a> year-round Monday through Friday, except on holidays.\n<p>When you request your visit, tell us who and what you would like to see and provide a few dates that work for you. As a National Merit student, you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Engage with a faculty member from your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/academics\/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">academic area(s) of interest<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Meet with the Assistant Dean of <a href=\"https:\/\/honors.ucf.edu\/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Burnett Honors College<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Tour <a href=\"https:\/\/www.housing.ucf.edu\/\">UCF Housing<\/a> facilities, including the Towers residence hall<\/li>\n<li>Take a private campus tour and meet with current UCF National Merit Scholars<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/section><\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"jumbotron jumbotron-fluid bg-faded mb-0 py-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-8 offset-2 col-sm-6 offset-sm-3 col-md-4 offset-md-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"text-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/2025_National_Merit_Newsletter_Digital.pdf\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13132 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/2025-National-Merit-Thumbnail.png\" alt=\"Thumbnail of the cover of the 2025 Scholars Newsletter\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13132 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20231%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Thumbnail of the cover of the 2025 Scholars Newsletter\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/2025-National-Merit-Thumbnail.png\"><\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-lg-4 col-10 offset-1 col-md-7 offset-md-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"h4 mt-4 mb-3\">2025 National Merit Scholar Newsletter<\/h2>\n<p>Congratulations! The honor of being named a National Merit Semifinalist is a distinction reserved for the most talented high school students in the nation. At UCF, we recognize, celebrate and honor your exceptional achievements. Our UCF Scholar newsletter is written to help inform you of opportunities, address common questions, and offer guidance on joining our community of creators, doers, thinkers and leaders. We invite you to read below and see how UCF can help you unleash your potential and achieve your goals.<br>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"btn btn-outline-primary mt-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/2025_National_Merit_Newsletter_Digital.pdf\">\n\t\t\t\tRead the 2025 National Merit Scholar Newsletter\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n<section id=\"scholars-help\" class=\"auto-section\">\t\t\t<div class=\"jumbotron jumbotron-fluid mb-5 bg-faded\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-md-4 col-md-4 col-lg-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"text-center\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13733 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Hayden-NM-Page-v2.png\" alt=\"Photo of Hayden Lau\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Hayden-NM-Page-v2.png 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Hayden-NM-Page-v2-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13733 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20225%20225%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Photo of Hayden Lau\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20225%20225%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Hayden-NM-Page-v2.png 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Hayden-NM-Page-v2-150x150.png 150w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Hayden-NM-Page-v2.png\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pl-md-5 col-md-8 col-lg-9\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"mt-4\">We\u2019re Here to Help<\/h2>\n<p class=\"lead\">We know that the college admissions process can be daunting. That\u2019s why we work one-on-one with National Merit students and their parents to answer questions and help determine if UCF is the right fit.<\/p>\n<p>Your personal contact for the National Merit Scholarship Program is Hayden Lau. Feel free to <a href=\"mailto:scholarsprogram@ucf.edu?subject=National%20Merit%20Campus%20Visit%20Request&amp;body=Hello,%0D%0A%0D%0AI%20would%20like%20to%20request%20a%20UCF%20National%20Merit%20Campus%20Visit.%20Please%20see%20my%20information%20below:%0D%0A%0D%0AStudent%E2%80%99s%20Name:%20_____________________________%0D%0ARequested%20Tour%20Date(s):%20_____________________________%0D%0ADate%20of%20Birth:%20_____________________________%0D%0AHigh%20School:%20_____________________________%0D%0AHome%20State:%20_____________________________%0D%0AIntended%20Major(s):%20_____________________________%0D%0AOther%20Areas%20of%20Interest:%20_____________________________%0D%0ATotal%20Guest%20Count%20(Including%20Student):%20_____________________________%0D%0AT-Shirt%20Size:%20_____________________________%0D%0A%0D%0AThank%20you!\">contact Hayden<\/a> with any questions or if you would like to schedule a campus visit.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019d like to get the perspective of a current National Merit scholar, jump to our <a href=\"#student-assistants\">student section<\/a> to read biographies of just some of the 300+ National Merit scholars enrolled at UCF.<br>\n\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"mb-4\">Scholars Program Student Assistants<\/h2>\n<p>Each year, National Merit scholars from across the nation make the decision to join the UCF Knights family. With <strong>340 National Merit students currently enrolled at UCF<\/strong>, you\u2019re in good company. But don\u2019t take our word for it. The Scholars Program student assistants are happy to share their UCF experience with you. And when you visit campus, you\u2019ll have the opportunity to meet one of these students and hear from them firsthand.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-4 mb-md-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-7 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 offset-lg-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-4 mb-md-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-7 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 offset-lg-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13723 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy.png\" alt width=\"338\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy.png 338w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy-249x300.png 249w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy-331x400.png 331w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy-298x360.png 298w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13723 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20338%20408%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt width=\"338\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20338%20408%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 338w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy.png 338w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy-249x300.png 249w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy-331x400.png 331w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy-298x360.png 298w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Sammy.png\"><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\"><\/dl>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dd><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-sm-8 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<h3 class=\"mt-xsm-4\">Sammy Gurgiolo<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-primary fa-lg fa fa-envelope mr-2 align-baseline\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t<a href=\"mailto:samson.gurgiolo@ucf.edu\">samson.gurgiolo@ucf.edu<\/a>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dd>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tYear\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Sophomore<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tHometown\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Westerville, Ohio<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tMajor\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Mechanical Engineering with minors in Music and Intelligent Robotic Systems<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFuture Goals\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>I hope to work in the themed entertainment industry after I graduate, but I&#8217;m open to anything where I can combine my interests in engineering and the arts in some way.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFavorite Thing about UCF\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dt><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;font-weight: 400\">I love the opportunities available on campus, such as presentations and workshops from local professionals, research with dozens of different labs, and clubs for every interest you can think of. Every week I find something new and fun that I can take part in.<\/span><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-4 mb-md-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-7 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 offset-lg-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13363 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia.png\" alt width=\"338\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia.png 338w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia-249x300.png 249w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia-331x400.png 331w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia-298x360.png 298w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13363 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20338%20408%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt width=\"338\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20338%20408%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 338w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia.png 338w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia-249x300.png 249w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia-331x400.png 331w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia-298x360.png 298w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Gianna-Meccia.png\"><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\"><\/dl>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dd><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-sm-8 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<h3 class=\"mt-xsm-4\">Gianna Meccia<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-primary fa-lg fa fa-envelope mr-2 align-baseline\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t<a href=\"mailto:gianna.meccia@ucf.edu\">gianna.meccia@ucf.edu<\/a>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dd>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tYear\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Sophomore<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tHometown\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Dunnellon, Florida<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tMajor\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Economics with a minor in Business Analytics<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFuture Goals\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>I plan to get a master&#8217;s in economics and become a financial analyst for a large corporation.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFavorite Thing about UCF\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dt><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;font-weight: 400\">My favorite aspect of UCF is the positive environment fostered here. All the professors are highly knowledgeable and caring, and they help to create a sense of belonging and community.<\/span><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-4 mb-md-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-7 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 offset-lg-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13137 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv.png\" alt=\"National Merit student Niv\" width=\"338\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv.png 338w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv-249x300.png 249w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv-331x400.png 331w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv-298x360.png 298w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13137 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20338%20408%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"National Merit student Niv\" width=\"338\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20338%20408%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 338w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv.png 338w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv-249x300.png 249w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv-331x400.png 331w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv-298x360.png 298w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Niv.png\"><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\"><\/dl>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dd><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-sm-8 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<h3 class=\"mt-xsm-4\">Nivedha Srinivasan<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-primary fa-lg fa fa-envelope mr-2 align-baseline\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t<a href=\"mailto:nivedha.srinivasan@ucf.edu\">nivedha.srinivasan@ucf.edu<\/a>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dd>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tYear\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Senior<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tHometown\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Windermere, Florida<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tMajor\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Biomedical Sciences with minors in Information Technology and Health Informatics and Information Management<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFuture Goals\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>I plan to attend graduate school and work in the field of epidemiology and bioinformatics.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFavorite Thing about UCF\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dt><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;font-weight: 400\">I love the opportunities that are available to students at UCF! You can find a multitude of research opportunities, student organizations and jobs right on campus.<\/span><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-4 mb-md-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-7 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 offset-lg-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13136 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha.png\" alt=\"National Merit student Ritisha\" width=\"338\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha.png 338w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha-249x300.png 249w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha-331x400.png 331w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha-298x360.png 298w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid alignnone wp-image-13136 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20338%20408%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"National Merit student Ritisha\" width=\"338\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20338%20408%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 338w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha.png 338w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha-249x300.png 249w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha-331x400.png 331w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha-298x360.png 298w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/10\/Ritisha.png\"><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\"><\/dl>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dd><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-sm-8 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<h3 class=\"mt-xsm-4\">Ritisha Suresh<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-primary fa-lg fa fa-envelope mr-2 align-baseline\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t<a href=\"mailto:ritisha.suresh@ucf.edu\">ritisha.suresh@ucf.edu<\/a>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dd>\n<dl class=\"mt-4\">\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tYear\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Senior<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tHometown\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Sanford, Florida<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tMajor\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>Biomedical Sciences<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFuture Goals\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>I plan to attend medical school with the aim of becoming a physician.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<dt>\t\t\t<span class=\"badge badge-primary mt-2 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFavorite Thing about UCF\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/dt>\n<dt><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;font-weight: 400\">I love how UCF provides you with so many opportunities. You can take advantage of whichever ones suit your career aspirations. They truly want to see you excel in your academics and personal lives.<\/span><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-fullscreen.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-211","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>National Merit Scholarship Program | UCF Undergraduate Admissions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"UCF is ranked among the top 30 colleges in the nation (11th among public universities)\u00a0&amp; 2nd in Florida for its number of enrolled National Merit Scholars.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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