Local students have been awarded National Merit Scholarships for their excellence in high school academics.

Westlake High School winners include Jennifer Fang, Svetlana Lyalina, Tim Pang and Carol Yu. Jenny Qiu and Elena Light from Newbury Park High School were honored, as was Julianne Brauer from La Reina High School.

Olivia Barry of Calabasas High School, Mateen Matthew Saffarian of Oak Park High School and Alex Yeh of Agoura High School received merit scholarships as well.

The students were among 2,500 high school seniors selected from a pool of 15,000 finalists. Each will take home a $2,500 scholarship.

A committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors chooses the winners based on the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in college studies.

—Joann Groff