EVANSTON, IL -- Today, National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) released the names of the first group of winners in the 71st annual National MeritS cholarship Program. Approximately 700 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 115 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. Also included in this category are awards supported by several foundations and individual donors who have established endowments with NMSC.