Bellevue students receive college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards

Published 5:30 pm Monday, July 13, 2026

National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has announced that three Bellevue residents have won college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

The local high school graduate winners are:

Simaya Vishal Gala of The Overlake School in Redmond will receive an Emory University scholarship and a listed a probably career field of business economics.

Ciara L. Smith-Sletten of Issaquah High School will receive a Case Western Reserve University scholarship and listed a probable career field of medicine.

Justin Zhang of Newport High School will receive an Emory University scholarship and listed a probable career field of healthcare.

These Merit Scholar designees join more than 2,500 other college-sponsored award recipients who were announced in June. College-sponsored awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.