Coeur d'Alene Charter senior a National Merit Scholarship winner

Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy senior Ashlyn Craigie has won a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship.

The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, National Merit Scholarship Corporation said in a Wednesday news release.

"This scholarship has opened doors for me; $2,000 earned is $2,000 less I have to pay for secondary education," Ashlyn told The Press via email.

Ashlyn is planning to attend Montana State University and major in pre-med with the ultimate goal of practicing radiology.

National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies, National Merit Scholarship Corporation said in a Wednesday news release. The number of winners in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised information submitted by finalists and their high schools.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation finances most of these single-payment National Merit $2,500 Scholarships. Corporations and company foundations that sponsor awards through the corporation help underwrite these scholarships with grants they provide in lieu of paying administrative fees.

"I appreciate Mountain America so much for providing financial opportunities for students so that money becomes less of a point of stress for those who want to obtain a degree," Ashlyn said.

Scholars may use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.