Naperville News Digest: Six Naperville students receive National Merit Scholarships; Naperville Park District offering free outdoor fitness programs; kids fishing derby being held Sunday at Blackwell Forest Preserve

Naperville News Digest: Six Naperville students receive National Merit Scholarships; Naperville Park District offering free outdoor fitness programs; kids fishing derby being held Sunday at Blackwell Forest Preserve

Six Naperville students awarded National Merit Scholarships

Six Naperville residents, including four students who plan to study at Purdue University in Indiana, have received college-sponsored scholarships as part of the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.

More than 2,900 winners of scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities were announced by the National Merit Scholarship Program this week. The awards provide between $500 and $2,000 a year for up to four years of undergraduate study, a news release said.

Randolph N. Ha of Metea Valley High School in Aurora; Jai Menon of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville; and Brian Schlesinger and Kira Yang of Naperville Central High School were awarded National Merit Purdue University scholarships.

Ha plans to pursue a career in computer engineering; Menon, software engineering; Schlesinger, business; and Yang, computer science.

Luke Golobitsh from Naperville North High School received the National Merit University of Minnesota scholarship and plans to study computer science.

Trenton Lee Polk from Naperville North High School received the National Merit University of Southern California scholarship and plans to study economics.

Naperville Park District offering free outdoor fitness programs

The Naperville Park District will offer three free outdoor fitness programs this summer featuring instructors from the Fort Hill Fitness Center.

The first class, morning yoga, is set for 8 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at the 95th Street Community Plaza, 3109 Cedar Glade Drive.

At 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 12, a Zumba Party in the Park will be held at the 95th Street Community Plaza.

Morning Meditation will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, outside the Millennium Carillon at Rotary Hill, 443 Aurora Ave.

The programs are free, but registration is required. For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org/programguides.

Kids fishing derby being held Sunday at Blackwell Forest Preserve

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will host its Just for Kids Fishing Derby from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, June 9, at Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve, near Butterfield and Winfield roads, in Warrenville.

The competition is for anglers 15 and younger. Children will be divided into four age groups to test their fishing skills by catching the largest fish in three different species. Fishing experts will be on hand to offer tips for fishing in the county.

Register at www.dupageforest.org or call 630-933-7248. Registration is also available at the event.