Congratulations to Halle Akaeze and Conner O’Reilly who have been named Commended Students in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. Approximately 34,000 students nationwide are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2020 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“Congratulations to both Halle and Conner for their recognition as Commended Students for the National Merit Scholarship Program,” Director of Guidance Rebecca Gottesman said. “We are so incredibly proud of both students for their extraordinary success on the PSAT exam last October and their overall academic accomplishments thus far, however, their high school counselors want to emphasize that this recognition only scratches the surface of who these two students truly are. Both have emerged as compassionate leaders, altruistic activists, artistically gifted, intrinsically motivated and incredibly special young adults. Their unique approach to everything they do has set them apart from their peers and propelled them into respected leadership roles both in school and out in the community. This is only the beginning for both Halle and Conner, with their innate values, strength of character and integrity, we look forward to watching them each accomplish every goal they have set for themselves!”