Five students from Alta and Hillcrest high schools have earned College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships. 

Four Hillcrest seniors received the National Merit University of Utah Scholarship. Micah Johnston, who last year received a perfect ACT score, is looking to major in mechanical engineering, with an emphasis in robotics. Recipients Caius Worthen and Jarom Norris are planning to major in computer science and computer programming, respectively. Warren E. Jensen, who attends home school and Hillcrest High, is considering majoring in music or the performing arts, the National Merit Scholarship Corp. announced. 

Alta senior Macy Crockett, who is looking to major in geological or geophysical engineering, received the National Merit University of Houston Scholarship.

The students are among 18 Utah winners and 2,500 national winners of the scholarships. The scholarships are financed by U.S. colleges and universities and valued from $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. The National Merit Scholarship Competition is based on student scores on the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, as well as a scholarship application, essay, extracurricular activities, awards, leadership position, outstanding academic records, recommendations by a high school official, and exemplary SAT scores.