Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded Lauren Knight a $2,500 Lowe’s scholarship.

Almost 17,000 students nationwide applied for the grants this year, and the foundation awarded 190 scholarships totaling more than $600,000. The scholarships are based on academic achievement, leadership and community involvement and cover study at any accredited two- or four-year college in the United States.

Knight plans to attend N.C. State University.

Lowe’s Home Improvement had fiscal 2009 sales of $47.2 billion through more than 1,700 stores.