17 Scottsdale-area students win National Merit Scholarships

Seventeen Scottsdale-area students were among 70 high-school seniors statewide who won National Merit Scholarships underwritten by universities.

The awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

The winners were selected based on SAT scores, grades, an essay, recommendations and extracurricular activities.

The recipients, with their hometowns, university and probable field of study:

Basis Scottsdale

• Carolina Abboud, Scottsdale, Arizona State University, psychology. • Thomas Marks, Paradise Valley, Texas A&M, astronautics.

Brophy College Prep

• Alexander Chen, Scottsdale, University of Southern California, anthropology. • Michael Nahom, Paradise Valley, ASU, aerospace engineering. • Samuel Triplett, Scottsdale, Northwestern University, mathematics. • Frederick Wix, Paradise Valley, USC, business administration.

Chaparral High School

• Matthew Adler, Paradise Valley, USC, applied mathematics. • Aatikah Mouti, Scottsdale, ASU, neuroscience

Desert Mountain High School

• Talia Pearl, Scottsdale, University of Chicago, astrophysics. • Rebecca Seifert, Scottsdale, USC, biology.

North High School

• David Battel, Scottsdale, Washington University, engineering.

Phoenix Country Day School

• Sidrah Khan, Scottsdale, USC, biology.

Scottsdale Christian Academy

• Ethan Blake, Paradise Valley, ASU, music. • Joel Hanson, Scottsdale, USC, finance. • Mackenzie Moses, Scottsdale, Baylor University, medicine.

Scottsdale Prep

• Michael Fernandez, Anthem, ASU, military service.

Xavier College Prep

• Sophia Wix, Paradise Valley, USC, genetics.