Ten Hawaii high school students have been selected as National Merit scholars for 2012, including five from Punahou School, in an announcement prepared for release today.

‘Iolani School and Waiakea High School had two scholars each, and Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus had one.

Each of the 10 students will receive a $2,500 National Merit scholarship.

Nationwide, 2,500 scholarship winners are being announced today. They were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors.

By the conclusion of this year’s competition, about 8,300 students will have won National Merit Scholarships worth more than $35 million.

Here are Hawaii’s 2012 National Merit scholars, in alphabetical order:

» Nathan L. Allman, Punahou School. Probable career field: medicine.

» William S. Chen, Punahou School. Probable career field: biology.

» Mark C. Flores, Punahou School. Probable career field: medicine.

» James T. Ha, Punahou School. Probable career field: medicine.

» Danielle L. Keahi, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus. Probable career field: neuroscience/geriatrics.

» Iris Kuo, ‘Iolani School. Probable career field: medicine/research.

» Kirsten M. Peterson, ‘Iolani School. Probable career field: economics.

» Zara H. Rabinko, Punahou School. Probable career field: journalism.

» Mark T. Seu, Waiakea High School. Probable career field: radiology.

» Katherine S. Torigoe, Waiakea High School. Probable career field: aerospace engineering.