Richland Student Wins National Merit Scholarship

Dylan Trigg's hard work just paid off in a big way. The Richland High School senior learned this week he won a National Merit University of Idaho Scholarship, earning between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of college.

The achievement puts Dylan among elite company. Out of more than 1.3 million students who took the qualifying test, only 15,000 made it to finalist standing, and fewer than half of those went on to win scholarships.

Dylan plans to study law at the University of Idaho, specializing in intellectual property. He's one of 16 Washington state students and about 2,500 nationwide who earned college-sponsored National Merit scholarships announced this week.

The journey started during his junior year when Dylan took the 2024 Preliminary SAT test. Students across 20,000 high schools competed for these awards, funded by 138 colleges and universities nationwide.

Dylan isn't the only Tri-City student celebrating this spring. Victor Petyuk, also from Richland High School, and Emma Yuan from Hanford High School previously won National Merit Battelle Scholarships earlier this year.

Why This Inspires

These scholarships represent more than money for college. They celebrate students who dedicate themselves to learning and academic excellence during challenging high school years.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will award nearly $24 million in scholarships to about 6,700 high school seniors this year. That's 6,700 students getting recognized for their dedication and 6,700 families seeing their support rewarded.

Local schools are producing talent that competes at the highest national level. When Tri-City students keep earning these prestigious awards, it shows the quality of education and support available in our community.

More college-sponsored scholarship winners will be announced on July 13, meaning more celebration ahead for deserving students across the country.