Ten Seniors Named National Merit Commended Scholars

Principal Jon Baffico announced the names of 10 students who have been recognized as Commended Scholars in the highly competitive 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. He presented each one with their certificates earlier this week.

 

These talented students include: Ranya Alkass, Matthew Casale, Chase Dymon, Bridget Kopp, David Koziol, Zachary Kull, Jacob Lund, Maeve McClellan, Charles O’Connor, and Michael O’Connor. 

 

"For our students to be recognized for exceptional academic promise affirms what Saint Viator strives to accomplish as an institution,” Mr. Baffico says, “that is to help students reach their full potential academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually."

 

The seniors were named Commended Scholars after taking the PSAT test as sophomores in 2022. They now are recognized as being among the top 50,000 students — out of the 1.5 million entrants — who entered the 2024 scholarship competition.

 

The announcement came one week after four additional students in the class — John Hutchinson, Peter McLeod, Omar Salinas, and Sophia Stuberg — were named National Merit Semi-Finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. 

All of these students singled out for recognition are among the highest scoring entrants in the state.

"Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success," commented a spokesperson for NMSC. ''These students represent a valuable national resource. 

“Recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation,” the spokesperson added. “We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success."