Two P-CEP Graduates Named in Latest Round of National Merit Scholars. District Total Rises to Six

Academic excellence, extracurricular leadership propel a record number of P-CCS students to success in prestigious scholarship competition. 

CANTON, Mich. – Two additional Plymouth-Canton Community Schools students were recognized for their academic achievements on July 14, when the final round of National Merit Scholarship winners was released. Their successes reflect P-CCS' mission to help all our students find success as they learn skills that will serve them well for a lifetime.  

“We are so proud of our National Merit Scholarship winners,” P-CCS Superintendent of Schools Dr. Monica L. Merritt said. “Achieving recognition in such a rigorous competition is a remarkable honor and reflects the dedication these students have to their education. I am incredibly proud of their accomplishments.” 

The final round of scholarships was awarded by colleges and universities. P-CEP’s scholarship winners in this round include: 

• Plymouth High School senior Siddharth Iyer, who intends to pursue a career in Aerospace Engineering.
• Salem High School senior Jusnoor S. Dhillon, who intends to pursue a career in Computer Engineering.

Iyer and Dhillon were awarded National Merit grants from their chosen colleges, Wayne State University and Michigan State University. These scholarships will provide the students with up to $2,000 per year in a renewable grant for up to four years. 

Iyer and Dhillon’s awards bring P-CCS’ total number of National Merit Scholars during the 2024-25 academic year to six, a record number of honorees for the district. 

P-CEP's scholarship winners from previous award rounds include: 

• Canton High School senior Shourik Das, who intends to pursue a career in medicine.
• Canton High School senior Hannah Thomas, who intends to pursue a career in neurology.
• Salem High School senior Dhruv V. Hegde, who intends to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.
• Salem High School senior Rohit Mahesh, who intends to pursue a career in engineering. 

Winners are chosen by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, and were evaluated by their academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.