Alicia Kacharia of International Community School in Kirkland will receive a $2,500 National Merit scholarship.

Fifty students were selected statewide for these awards.

Kacharia is among 2,500 high school seniors nationwide to win this scholarship. She was selected from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.

National Merit $2,500 scholarship winners are selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors. They select students based on their academic record — including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist and a recommendation written by a high school official.

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