Rachel Gockley, daughter of Jim Gockley, supervisor-Technology Development, and Ellyn Schuette, daughter of Ken Schuette, senior engineer-Substation Engineering, have been named National Merit Scholarship winners. Both employees work at PP&L, Inc.'s corporate headquarters in Allentown.

Gockley, a senior at Emmaus High School, will attend Eastern College, St. Davids, Pa., and will major in computer science. Schuette, a senior at Allentown Central Catholic High School, will attend Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., and will major in chemistry.

"PP&L, Inc. has been a sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Program since 1965," Lou Ramos, manager-Community Affairs at PP&L, Inc., said. "It's a privilege to support and recognize the academic achievements, extracurricular accomplishments and leadership skills of the children and grandchildren of PP&L retirees and employees for almost 35 years. These students are our future leaders."

Both students will receive four-year scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $2,000 and a certificate from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The amount of the award is based on financial need.

In letters to each of the students, PP&L, Inc. Chairman, President and CEO William F. Hecht commended them for their intelligence, determination and leadership skills. "You are among an elite group of young adults in this country," he wrote.

PP&L, Inc. executives will honor the students, their families and representatives of their schools at a luncheon on May 25 at the company's headquarters in Allentown.

PP&L, Inc. is committed to supporting educational programs such as the National Merit Scholarship. Through the company's public and charitable contributions program, PP&L, Inc. provides financial support for hundreds of colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations and community events. In addition, the more than 1,500 PP&L, Inc. employees contribute more than 170,000 hours annually to various organizations through the company's Community of Volunteers program.

Gockley and Schuette were selected from students in the nationwide National Merit Program who advanced to the finalist level of the competition. Finalists are the highest-scoring entrants in each state, representing less than 1 percent of the state's seniors.

Funding for the Merit Scholarship awards is provided by about 400 corporate sponsors that represent nearly all sectors of American industry and are committed to honoring and providing educational opportunities for students.

Gockley and Schuette were among nearly 1,100 Merit Scholarship winners announced recently by officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a nonprofit corporation located in Evanston, Ill.