received program recognition, and more than 34,000 of the most outstanding participants were chosen to receive Achievement Scholarship® awards. Prior to 2016, black students who met entry requirements and requested consideration when they took the PSAT/NMSQT could enter both the National Achievement Scholarship Program and the National Merit Program. The two programs were conducted concurrently; however, a student's standing in each program was determined independently. Black students could qualify for recognition, become candidates for awards, and be honored as Scholars in both competitions, but they could receive only one monetary award from NMSC. Students who were chosen as both National Achievement and National Merit Scholars received the monetary award that was most advantageous to them and were recognized as Honorary Scholars in the other program. With the conclusion of the 2015 program, the National Achievement Scholarship Program transitioned to the United Negro College Fund, which will use program funds to honor and award financial assistance to high-achieving, underrepresented college graduates through the newly designed Achievement Capstone Program. Because Achievement Scholarship funds are being redirected to awards for college graduates, Black American high school students no longer have the opportunity to compete for Achievement Scholarship awards. However, they may still enter the National Merit® Scholarship competition, and they may be eligible to receive awards from the United Negro College Fund after college graduation. National Merit and National Achievement Scholars The following is a list of notable National Merit Scholarship Program honorees, many of whom are listed on the "Scholars You May Know" page on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website. John C. Malone (1959) Elvin Bishop (1960) Joseph Stiglitz (1960) Randy Hendricks (1963) Amory Lovins (1964) Robert Reich (1964) Thomas Cech (1966) Alexa Canady (1967) Mitch Daniels (1967) Michael Walsh (1967) Roger Tsien (1968) Jerry Greenfield (1969) Paul Krugman (1970) Ben Bernanke (1971) Evelynn M. Hammonds (1971) Jeffrey Sachs (1972) Bill Gates (1973) Jim Cramer (1973) John Roberts (1973) Mae Jemison (1973) Steve Ballmer (1973) Elena Kagan (1977) Lisa P. Jackson (1979) B. Alvin Drew (1980) Lisa Randall (1980) Jeff Bezos (1982) Andrew Gelman (1982) Susan Rice (1982) Spencer Wells (1984) Peter Thiel (1985) Chubb Rock (1985) Jeri Ryan (1986) Lauren Lake (1986) Linda Rottenberg (1986) Elliott Smith (1987) Ted Cruz (1988) M. Night Shyamalan (1988) Howard Steven Friedman (1989) Michael McCullers (1989) Josh Singer (1990) Asia Carrera (1991) Melissa Harris-Perry (1991) Brooke Magnanti (1992) Stephenie Meyer (1992) Felicia Day (1995)