Daniel Nielsen. Photo courtesy of Auburn High School

Daniel Nielsen, an Auburn High School senior, is among 2,500 students nationwide to receive a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship.

The award was announced last week. Nielsen, in Auburn’s Renaissance Gifted Academy, among a pool of more than 15,000 Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

“Daniel is an asset to the Auburn community with his strong academic achievement, character, leadership and contributions to society,” said Nielsen Barbara Thompson, his high school counselor. “He has developed a strong confidence from within because of what he has accomplished, rather than because of the recognition he has received.”

He will attend the University of Alabama in the fall and intends to major in chemical engineering.

The $2,500 scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.