Students from West Hartford’s Hall High School have been recognized by the College Board based on assessments and schoolwork to earn these awards, which colleges use to identify academically competitive underrepresented students.

Submitted by Amy Shaffer, Student Activities/Career Center Coordinator

William H. Hall High School students have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded National African American, Hispanic, Indigenous and/or Rural/Small Town Recognition through College Board’s Student Search Service.

Fourteen students were designated as National African American Recognition Program Scholars. These recipients are: Lauren Bell, Niya Bramble, Jennifer Brown, Veronica Copeland, Lyndsey Goodison, Zaineb Kona, Marie Moemeka, Brian Murphy, Chisom Onoh, Helena Shenk, Rebekah Walters, Avery Woods Weber, Mason Wright, and Katherine Wright-Goodison.

Top row (from left): Lauren Bell, Jennifer Brown, Veronica Copeland. Bottow row (from left): Lyndsey Goodison, Marie Moemeka, and Brian Murphy. Courtesy photos

Top row (from left): Chisom Onoh, Rebekah Walters. Bottom row (from left): Avery Woods Weber, Mason Wright, and Katherine (Garce) Wright-Goodison
Not Pictured: Niya Bramble, Zaineb Kona, and Helena Shenk. Courtesy photos

Seven students were designated National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars.  These recipients are: Matthew Gelinas, Emilia Medina. Jessmarie Mendez, Sofia Mendoza Barcelona, Antonio Ortiz, Leonel Vasquez-Cruz, and Avery Woods Weber.

Top (from left): Matthew Gelinas, Emilia Medina. Jessmarie Mendez. Center: Sofia Mendoza Barcelona. Bottom (from left): Antonio Ortiz, Leonel Vasquez-Cruz, Avery Woods Weber. Courtesy photos

“We’re thrilled that our students have earned this recognition. We are very proud of them for their achievements in their classrooms and on College Board assessments,” said Dan Zittoun, Principal of William H. Hall High School. “These programs help students from underrepresented backgrounds stand out to colleges during admissions.”

Students who may be eligible have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

Eligible students will be invited to apply during their sophomore or junior year and will be awarded at the beginning of the next school year. Students will receive their awards in time to include them on their college and scholarship applications.

“By awarding students who excel academically with honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs, our aim is to create pathways to college for underrepresented students,” said Steve Bumbaugh, College Board senior vice president of College & Career Access. “We hope this inspires many more students to work toward this recognition.

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