Students from West Hartford’s Conard High School have been recognized in a program that recognizes over 90,000 high-performing students worldwide to help open opportunities for their future.

Submitted by Megan Cersosimo, Student Activities/College & Career Center Coordinator

Students at Conard High School earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program. The programs celebrate the hard work of thousands of high school students nationwide to help them showcase their strong academic performance.

“It is with great pride and admiration that we announce our outstanding students who have earned National Merit recognition. This prestigious achievement is a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence. The journey to this honor has been marked by countless hours of hard work and an unwavering commitment to learning, and each of these students has risen to the challenge with grace and determination,” said Patricia Pires, West Hartford School Counseling Department Supervisor.

Every year, over 1.5 million students take the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test when they take the PSAT in the fall of their sophomore and/or junior years. The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Conard High School is proud to have 28 honorees this year.

National Merit Commended students (from left): George Musto, Harshil Yerrabelli, Katherine Lafferty, Catherine Zehr, Addison Gill, Andaya Laurich and Mrs. Tamborello-Noble Not pictured: Grant Bigger. Courtesy photo

Our first award is the National Merit Commended Scholar recognition. These students scored in the top 3-4% of all test-takers on the PSAT. Their high scores reflect a student’s dedication and commitment to academic excellence. Achieving high scores requires consistent study habits, time management, and a strong work ethic, all of which are characteristics of a dedicated student. Conard’s honorees are Grant Bigger, Addison Gill, Katherine Lafferty, Andaya Laurich, George Musto, Harshil Yerrabelli, and Catherine Zehr.

Our second award is the National Merit Semifinalist recognition. These students rank in the top 1% of all test-takers on the PSAT. Semifinalists must now submit additional application materials, such as their grades, a personal essay, and extracurricular activities, to be considered for the Finalist stage. Finalists will be announced in the spring. Conard’s honorees are Charles Heydt, Meghan Jo, Jason Nguyen, and Gavin Smith.

For the first time, the National College Board academic honors recognize first-generation students, in addition to rural and small town Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic/or Latino students. The program opens college access for more students because many institutions use the awards for their recruitment efforts.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our students and recognize them for the great work they’ve been doing. We’re proud of their strong academic performance in the classroom and on College Board assessments like the PSAT/NMSQT, PSATTM 10, and AP Exams,” said Conard Principal Jocelyn Tamborello-Noble. “There’s so much that makes our students unique, and this honor reinforces their individuality and achievements as assets for their future.”

Eligible students must meet the following criteria to qualify:

• Earn a GPA of B+ (equal to at least 3.3 or 87%-89%) or higher.
• PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 assessment scores that are within the top 10% of assessment takers in each state for each award program or earned a score of 3 or higher on 2 or more AP Exams by the end of 10th grade.
• Attend school in a rural area or small town, or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latino, Indigenous/Native American, or a first-generation college student.

The program expanded this year to include a fifth award. Over 35,000 students nationwide received the inaugural National First-Generation Recognition Program Award.

At Conard High School, National African American Recognition Program honorees are: Emmanuel Adetola, Julianna Farquharson, Ronin Harrison, Rowan Thompson, and Gianna Wallace. National Hispanic Recognition Program honorees are: Ella Carney, Mattingly Ford, William Garcia, Ronin Harrison, Maite Lopez, Mariela Martinez, Jonathan Mayor, Azul Montiel, Rose Salazar, Kal-El Sierra, and Rowan Thompson. Our National First Generation Program honorees are: Mariela Martinez, Rowan Thompson and Ursap Raut.

“This year, the National Recognition Programs are recognizing more students than ever so that the outstanding academic abilities of more than 90,000 deserving students are not overlooked as they plan for their future,” said Amy Reitz, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. “We’re proud to support colleges and universities that are committed to supporting all students, and our program offers one way they can strengthen their recruitment efforts to students that will thrive on their campus.”

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