Ranch senior wins National Merit Scholarship

Lakewood Ranch High School senior Juntao Zhu was recently awarded a National Merit Scholarship from the University of Florida.

Zhu, one of two Manatee County recipients, is considering a career in mechanical engineering.

Officials from each sponsor college select scholarship winners in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program to attend their respective school. Awards vary between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.