Eastside High School senior Irma Rahman has been named a winner of a corporate-sponsored scholarship through the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) – one of just 700 students nationwide to earn the achievement.  

According to an Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) press release, the award is one of three types of scholarships handed out through the NMSP. In May, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which coordinates the NMSP, will announce the winners of $2,500 scholarships funded through the corporation. This will be followed by an announcement of the final round of scholarship recipients funded by colleges and universities in June and July.  

The release states that scholarship winners are chosen from among students named finalists in the National Merit program. Finalists are the top performers on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and SAT college entrance exams, the release said.  

To achieve finalist status, students must also submit essays, secure teacher recommendations and demonstrate outstanding leadership, along with active participation in extracurricular activities. 

For the first round of scholarships, the release said finalists must also “meet the criteria established by the corporation sponsoring the scholarship.” Rahman received her scholarship from Leidos Inc., a global science and technology firm.  

According to the release, Rahman, who is a student in Eastside’s rigorous International Baccalaureate program, plans to pursue a career in neurosurgery.