National recognition for some of Manatee County's brightest students!

On Wednesday, more than 2,500 recipients of National Merit Scholarships sponsored by colleges and universities across the country were announced.

We're proud to share that three of those prestigious scholarship winners are graduates of Manatee County high schools! 👏

Kevin Chen
Probable career field: Chemical Engineering
Braden River High School

Richard M. Lay
Probable career field: Materials Engineering
Manatee High School

Benjamin Barr
Probable career field: Engineering
Palmetto High School

All three scholars earned the National Merit University of Florida Scholarships.

Congratulations on this remarkable achievement. Your hard work, dedication, and academic excellence have earned you a place among the nation's best.