Tampa, Fl. (July 21, 2026) – Three additional Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) seniors have been named 2026 College‑Sponsored National Merit Scholarship winners, earning national recognition for their academic achievement and future promise, according to an announcement released today by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®).

Selected from a nationwide pool of high-achieving students, National Merit Scholars represent the top tier of graduating seniors across the country. The selection process includes outstanding academic records, high scores on the PSAT/NMSQT, strong SAT or ACT performance, extracurricular involvement, and a rigorous application review.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for earning this well-deserved national recognition,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “They join forty-four of our students to be recognized for their efforts through the National Merit Program. Their success reflects not only their hard work and determination, but also the strength of the rigorous academic programs across Hillsborough County Public Schools.”

The additional HCPS 2026 College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship winners are:

• Dev N. Parikh, Strawberry Crest High School

  National Merit University of Florida Scholarship

  Probable career field: Computer Science

• Lily M. Polender, Robinson High School

  National Merit University of Florida Scholarship

  Probable career field: Chemistry

• Aryan K. Chavda, Middleton High School

  National Merit University of Miami Scholarship

  Probable career field: Healthcare

This final group of winners brings the number of 2026 National Merit Scholars nationally to about 6,500. These distinguished high school graduates will receive scholarships for undergraduate study worth a total of nearly $24 million.