McKinney, Texas – Each fall, approximately 1.5 million high school juniors flock to testing locations across the country to sit for the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT©), which serves as an initial screen of entrants into the National Merit Scholarship Program, a competition that can lead to academic recognition, college scholarships and the prestigious title of National Merit Scholar.

This fall, officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of 17 McKinney ISD seniors whose results on the 2019 PSAT/NMSQT earned them recognition as Commended Scholars and eight who earned the title of National Merit Semifinalist.

In addition, the College Board announced the names of four MISD seniors who earned distinction in the National African American Recognition Program and three who earned recognition in the National Hispanic Recognition Program for their exceptional performance on the exam.

Each level of commendation represents a remarkable academic achievement.

“We are so proud of our students in receiving this wonderful academic accomplishment,” said Dr. Javetta Jones Roberson, MISD Secondary Coordinator of Advanced Academics & Gifted/Talented. “We have representation for National Merit and the College Board’s National Recognition Program at all three of our high schools, which is phenomenal! We look forward to continuing to help support these students and their future endeavors as they positively impact our school, local and global community.”

National Merit Semifinalists

National Merit Scholarship Corporation has named approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in this year’s National Merit Scholarship Program, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 highest scoring students. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements beyond their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title. These remarkable students represent approximately the top 1 percent of the students who took the PSAT/NMSQT in 2019.

McKinney Boyd High School National Merit Semifinalists
Andrew Davis
Amy Gilmore
Tate Goodwin
Inbar Leibovich
Jordyn Nevelle

McKinney High School National Merit Semifinalists
Sharon Oh
Anna Payne
Rosie Stoddard

McKinney Boyd National Merit Semifinalists: (l-r) Tate Goodwin, Jordyn Nevelle, Amy Gilmore, Andrew Davis (not pictured – Inbar Leibovich)

McKinney High School National Merit Semifinalists: (l-r) Sharon Oh, Rosie Stoddard (not pictured – Anna Payne) (Photo courtesy of MHS)

National Merit Commended Scholars

Of the approximately 1.5 million students who take the PSAT/NMSQT, some 34,000 of the highest scoring entrants—representing roughly the top 2 percent—receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Scholars are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score.

Although Commended Scholars do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

McKinney Boyd High School National Merit Commended Scholars
Anna Bose
McKinley Bryson
Morgan George
Jackson Heuvel
Nicole Holden
Ian Hook-Adams
Allyson Macfee
Veer Mistry
Dean Plummer
Aiden Varnell
Emily Wines

McKinney High School National Merit Commended Scholars
Kael Kristufek
Katrina Lee
Benjamin Yu

McKinney North High School National Merit Commended Scholars
Mohammed Hassan
Nadia Karjadi
Madeline Prugh

McKinney Boyd National Merit Commended Scholars: (front row, l-r) Dean Plummer, Ian Hook-Adams, Morgan George, Jackson Heuvel (back row, l-r) Anna Bose, Veer Mistry, Allyson Macfee (not pictured – McKinley Bryson, Nicole Holden, Aiden Varnell, Emily Wines)

McKinney High School National Merit Commended Scholars: (l-r) Benjamin Yu, Katrina Lee, Kael Kristufek

McKinney North National Merit Commended Scholars: (l-r) Nadia Karjadi, Madeline Prugh, Mohammed Hassan

College Board National Recognition Program

The College Board National Recognition Programs create pathways to college for students from underrepresented communities by awarding them academic honors and connecting them with universities across the country. Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT, score in the top 2.5 percent and are African American, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous or attend school in a rural area or small town, may be invited to apply for academic recognition as part of the College Board National Recognition Programs.

McKinney Boyd High School National Recognition Honorees
Avery McNeil—National African American Recognition Program
Ivan Franco-Hernandez—National Hispanic Recognition Program
Ardynne Fleitz—National Hispanic Recognition Program

McKinney High School National Recognition Honorees
Juan Esparza Loyzaga—National Hispanic Recognition Program

McKinney North High School College Board Honorees
Timari Harvey—National African American Recognition Program
Mohammed Hassan—National African American Recognition Program
Kennedi Montague—National African American Recognition Program

McKinney Boyd College Board National Recognition Program Honorees: (l-r) Avery McNeil—National African American Recognition Program, Ardynne Fleitz—National Hispanic Recognition Program, Ivan Franco-Hernandez—National Hispanic Recognition Program

Note: Not pictured from McKinney High School—Juan Esparza Loyzaga—National Hispanic Recognition Program

McKinney North High School College Board National Recognition Program Honorees: (l-r) Timari Harvey—National African American Recognition Program, Kennedi Montague—National African American Recognition Program, Mohammed Hassan—National African American Recognition Program

National Merit Scholarship Corporation
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was
established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 440 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

The College Board
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education.

Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools.

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