A Cranberry Township student was named a National Merit Scholarship recipient.

Brendan A. Sullivan, who attends Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, was awarded the scholarship sponsored by PPG Industries Foundation. He plans to study law.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the names of the first group of winners in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program.

More than 1,000 high school seniors will receive corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 200 companies, foundations, and other business organizations.

Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and meet criteria of their scholarship sponsors.

Most of these awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $500 to $10,000 per year.

Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000.

Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.

A second round of merit scholarship announcements will come later this year for noncorporate awards.