Seven more 2000 MCPS graduates have won National Merit Scholarships, raising the number of Merit Scholarships for the 1999-2000 school year to 34. The local scholars account for almost 29 percent of the 119 scholars selected in Maryland this year.

The additional seven awards were given by universities to students who will attend those institutions.

The scholars, the funding colleges, and intended areas of study are:

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School

Daniel B. Schwartzman, Macalester College, business

Montgomery Blair High School

Daniel E. Zytnick, University of Maryland, computer science

Richard Montgomery High School

Kara J. Choi, University of Maryland, law

Rebecca P. Pskowski, University of Chicago, undecided

Quince Orchard High School

Vicki K. Burr, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, medicine, orthopedic surgery

Springbrook High School

Ian S. McCowan, Macalester College, undecided

Walt Whitman High School

Monika A. Schaeffer, Johns Hopkins University, computer science, biomedical engineering