The PPG Industries Foundation announced that it is sponsoring nearly $325,000 in undergraduate college scholarships for U.S. students through National Merit Scholarship Corp. in 2015, including 53 new four-year scholarships.

The new scholarships include 35 awards for PPG employees’ children, 16 awards for students who live in communities near PPG facilities and two National Achievement scholarships recognizing outstanding Black American high school students. Scholarship winners are selected by National Merit Scholarship Corp. based on Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores and additional criteria, and they receive awards of $1,500 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.

“The PPG Industries Foundation has been helping academic dreams come true through the National Merit Scholarship Programs for more than 50 years,” said Sue Sloan, executive director of the PPG Industries Foundation. “It’s very exciting to know we’re helping so many young people who will become tomorrow’s leaders in advanced manufacturing and other fields.”

For consideration for the program, students must take the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year of high school.