[johnnyo]

I was a National Merit scholar, FWIW.

It’s not really a “prestigious award”. According to the article, 240 kids at the school got the same thing.

At my large high school, lots of kids got it too.

[ummonk]

It's an award that can get you a full ride or even a stipend at many state colleges. Prestigious or not, it's a very important award.