McKinney, Texas – Each fall, some 1.5 million high school juniors all across the country make their way to testing locations to take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT©) which functions as an initial screen of entrants in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Their performance on that test can potentially lead to academic recognition, college scholarships and—for the top one percent—the prestigious title of National Merit Scholar, an achievement that attracts interest from top universities.

In September, officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of 30 McKinney ISD seniors whose results on the 2017 PSAT/NMSQT have earned them recognition as Commended Scholars and five MISD seniors whose distinguished performances have earned them the designation of National Merit Semifinalists. In addition, the College Board announced the names of 13 MISD seniors who have earned distinction in the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP).

Each level of commendation represents a remarkable academic achievement.

“To earn recognition by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and the College Board is one of the great academic honors that a student can achieve during his or her high school years,” said Marita Cleaver, MISD coordinator of advanced academics. “This recognition honors those students who focus on college readiness and commit their efforts and dedication to this goal on their path to success in college and life.

“Furthermore, it honors all those who have provided a solid foundation of educational growth throughout these students’ academic careers. We are proud and humbled to have such hard working and dedicated students in MISD, and we congratulate them and their families as they celebrate these outstanding academic achievements,” said Cleaver.

National Merit Semifinalists

National Merit Scholarship Corporation has named approximately 16,000 students Semifinalists in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These students have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 2,500 National Merit Scholarships, approximately 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships® and about 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards. These remarkable students represent the top one percent of the students who took the PSAT/NMSQT in 2017.

From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference.

McKinney ISD National Merit Semifinalists:

McKinney Boyd High School—Cassidy Bergenthal

McKinney High School—Evan Varghese, Alec Weigel

McKinney North High School—Jackson Kays, James Kays

McKinney Boyd High School NMS Semifinalist: Cassidy Bergenthal

McKinney High School NMS Semifinalists: (l-r) Alec Weigel and Evan Varghese

McKinney North High School NMS Semifinalists: (l-r) James Kays and Jackson Kays

National Merit Commended Scholars

About 34,000 of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT received Letters of Commendation in recognition for their outstanding academic promise. These exceptional students represent the top two percent of the students who took the PSAT/NMSQT in 2017.

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 ISD National Merit Commended Scholars:

McKinney Boyd High School—Kevin Anderson, Jessica Cabrasawan, Logan Frank, Kevin Fritz, Yung Hsin Hsu, Jackson Angell, Colin McCrory, Marcus McEnroe, Samuel Miller

McKinney High School—Jose Esparza Loyzaga, Diego Espinosa, Alberto Gutierrez-Irizarry, Jacob Harsch, Miriam Hiestand, Leonard Humphrey, Matthew Juliano, Annette O’Dell, Nitish Patel, Oliver Prows, Lesli Romero, Nicholas Simpson, Michael Stallbaumer, Chasen Zimmer

McKinney North High School—Eyoel Abera, Zoe Baker, Taelyn Blomster, Abigail Fuller, Collin Healer, Victor Unnone, Kasey Wells

McKinney Boyd High School NMS Commended Scholars: (Front row, l-r) Jackson Angell, Yung Hsu and Jessica Cabrasawan (Back row, l-r) Logan Frank, Marcus McEnroe, Kevin Anderson, Kevin Fritz, Samuel Miller

McKinney Boyd NMS Commended Scholar Colin McCrory

McKinney High School NMS Commended Scholars: (Front row, l-r) Annette O’Dell, Leslie Romero, Miriam Hiestand, Alberto Gutierrez-Irizarry, Chasen Zimmer and Michael Stallbaumer (Back row, l-r) Jose Esparza Loyzaga, Nicholas Simpson, Jacob Harsch, Diego Espinosa, Leonard Humphrey, Nitish Patel, Matthew Juliano and Oliver Prows

McKinney North High School NMS Commended Scholars: (Front row, l-r) Zoe Baker, Abigail Fuller and Kasey Wells (Back row, l-r) Taelyn Blomster, Victor Unnone, Collin Healer and Eyoel Abera

College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program

Each year, the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program recognizes about 5,000 of the highest-scoring students from among the approximately 250,000 Hispanic/Latino juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT. Although there is no financial award tied to recognition, NHRP makes student information available to colleges and universities that are interested in communicating with academically talented Hispanic/Latino students.

McKinney ISD National Hispanic Recognition Honorees:

McKinney Boyd High School—Jackson Angell, Kaelyn Miller, Lily Monte

McKinney High School—Diego Espinosa, Alberto Gutierrez-Irizarry, Cade Holdstock, Jose Esparza Loyzaga, Diego Reynoso-Jimenez, Lesli Romero, Michael Stallbaumer, Chasen Zimmer

McKinney North High School—Holt Harvey, Keith Williams

McKinney Boyd College Board National Hispanic Recognition Honorees: (l-r) Kaelyn Miller, Lily Monte and Jackson Angell

McKinney High School College Board National Hispanic Recognition Honorees: (Front row, l-r) Alberto Gutierrez-Irizarry, Lesli Romero and Chasen Zimmer (Back row, l-r) Michael Stallbaumer, Diego Espinosa, Jose Esparza Loyzaga and MHS Principal Alan Arbabi (Photo courtesy of MHS)

McKinney North High School College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Honorees: (l-r) Keith Williams and Holt Harvey

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.

Source: National Merit Scholarship Corporation, College Board

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