This fall, four seniors were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their outstanding academic achievement on the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). Aidan Michaels and Aaron Malinka were named National Merit Semifinalists, while Jack Murray and Cathlyne Cueto earned distinction as Commended Scholars.
The National Merit Scholarship Program honors the top-scoring students nationwide based on their performance on the PSAT. Out of approximately 1.5 million students who entered the competition, only about 16,000 are chosen as semifinalists, representing less than one percent of all test takers.
“I feel proud of myself and happy for becoming a National Merit Semifinalist,” said Michaels. “This title will improve my college application and is something I can always look back on with pride,” he added.
Semifinalists like Michaels and Malinka now have the opportunity to advance to the finalist level by completing an application that includes an essay, academic record, and teacher recommendation. Those who qualify as finalists will compete for more than $28 million in scholarships that will be awarded next spring.
Both Michaels and Malinka are known for their academic dedication and leadership. They have consistently taken rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses across multiple disciplines, demonstrating their strong intellectual curiosity and commitment to learning.
Murray and Cueto, recognized as Commended Scholars, rank among the top 50,000 scorers in the nation. Although they do not continue in the competition, their distinction reflects exceptional academic promise and dedication.
“I feel so grateful, honored, and excited to be titled a National Merit Commended student,” said Cueto.
Principal Matthew Sarosy praised the students’ achievements, saying, “I can’t begin to express how impressive it is for a student to be recognized by the NMSC. I am filled with pride that LHS had four students recognized by this national competition. I have full faith and confidence that our four recognized students have bright futures ahead of them. They have proven they have what it takes. I would like to thank all four students for representing LHS in the most positive of ways!”
