More National Merit Scholars enrolled in our university this year than in any other Tennessee Board of Regents university.

Three students — William P. Phillips of Oneida, David J. Powelson of Lincoln County and Joshua K. Nikkel of Chattanooga — earned national honors, named TTU as their first choice, and enrolled last fall.

"We are proud to have these three young men as part of our university family," says James Gray, assistant director of Admissions. "They represent the students across campus who demonstrate tremendous potential for life-long success."

According to Gray, only six institutions across the state, including the TBR's University of Memphis and Tennessee Tech, qualify as National Merit Scholar sponsors based on the organization's criteria.

Tennessee Tech is one of only 200 U.S. higher education institutions that sponsored Merit Scholarships in 2006.

"Merit Scholar" has become synonymous with academic excellence, and award recipients have gone on to make significant contributions to their career fields, local communities and the country as a whole.