Kansas University’s office of admissions and scholarships on Tuesday announced the names of 118 freshman national merit scholars for this academic year, including five students from Lawrence.

KU announced the students’ names for three national merit scholarship programs — National Merit, National Hispanic and National Achievement.

The Lawrence students all won in the National Merit Scholars category. They are Brett Eric Bolton, Karl Eric Byleen-Higley, Rebekah Ann Heacock, Samuel Cyrus Knowlton and Emily Anna McWilliams.

Bolton, who is an undeclared major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is the son of Susan Bolton and is a Free State High School graduate.

Byleen-Higley, a computer science major, is the son of M. Higley and E. Byleen and is a Lawrence High School graduate.

Heacock, a Slavic languages and literatures and Russian and East European studies major, is the daughter of Douglas and Carolyn Heacock and is a Free State graduate.

Knowlton, a biology and classical languages major, is the son of Danette Michaels and is a Fountain Valley School graduate.

McWilliams, an undeclared major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is the daughter of Robert and Patricia McWilliams and is a Free State High School graduate.

KU attracted 51 merit scholars from Kansas, 17 students from Missouri and 50 from other states.

¢Merit scholars listed by home county and state

The National Merit scholarship is widely regarded as the most prestigious national award bestowed upon graduating high school seniors.

Fewer than 10,000 students receive National Merit scholarships from the 1.3 million who compete for the award.

Recipients are chosen based on their academic abilities and records and extracurricular activities.