Three Kirkland students are among the 2,800 students nationwide who have received National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities.

David Ulrich of Lake Washington High School (National Merit University of Washington Scholarship), Brenda Kao of the Kirkland International Community School (National Merit Vanderbilt University Scholarship) and Alena Rau of the Kirkland International Community School (National Merit Harvey Mudd College Scholarship) all received scholarships.

Each sponsoring college selects scholarship winners from finalists in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their school. The awards range from between $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.

Local grad earns B.A. in molecular biology

Laura Rosen, a Kirkland resident and Juanita High graduate, has graduated from Pomona College of Claremont, Calif., with a Bachelor of Arts in molecular biology. The College’s 115th commencement exercises were held on May 18.

While a student at Pomona, Rosen was awarded a Goldwater Fellowship, a Beckman Research Grant, The John Stauffer Prize for Academic Merit in the Sciences, The Walter Bertsch Prize in Molecular Biology and The Cecil Short Memorial Prize in Music. She interned at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Rosen graduated summa cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors. She is the daughter of Steven Rosen and Carolyn Hayek, residents of Kirkland.