The Kern High School District announced Monday that four students in the district have been named 2018 National Merit $2,500.00 Scholarship winners.

The students chosen were Warren Alphonso, Anusha Gogulapati and Niteesh Kuchakulla from Stockdale High School and Andrew Haviland from Independence High School. The students were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the scholarship program.

According to the National Merit Scholarship Foundation, winners are judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Students were chosen based on a number of accomplishments, including their academic record, their scores on standardized tests, contributions and leadership in school and community activities and recommendations written by school officials.