DuPage National Merit Scholars named

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has released the names of the first group of winners in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

More than 1,000 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by roughly 160 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations.

Most of the awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $500 to $10,000 a year. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.

More than 1.6 million juniors in roughly 22,000 high schools entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Here's a look at DuPage County students on the list:

• Angela Rauch of Downers Grove, a student at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School in Chicago, wants to pursue a career in computer science.

• William Demey of Elmhurst, a student at Timothy Christian, is undecided about his career path.

• Christian Glosner of Elmhurst, a student at York, wants to pursue a career in political science.

• Elaine Yan of Hinsdale, a student at Hinsdale Central, wants to pursue a career in business.

• Kierra Beeson of Lisle, a student at Naperville North, wants to pursue a career in medicine.

• Maxwell Levitt of Naperville, a student at Naperville North, wants to pursue a career in quantitative analysis.

• Mihir Rao of Naperville, a student at Waubonsie Valley, wants to pursue a career in medicine.

• Sangita Setlur of Naperville, a student at Naperville North, wants to pursue a career in computer science.

• Eric Xu of Naperville, a student at Neuqua Valley, wants to pursue a career in engineering.