By Valerie L. Moran - Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy HS
SOUTHWEST RANCHES | Twenty students from Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School have been recognized by the National Merit Recognition Program and the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
“Our students are very happy, it is a great honor to be nominated for these prestigious awards,” said Adriana P. Murgueytio, director of Guidance and Counseling at McCarthy.
The students winning in each category will be announced in the spring of 2016.
Archbishop McCarthy High's 2016 National Merit Semifinalists are: John Albury, Alessandro Benadia, Jonathan Delva, Sebastian Fuentes, Michael F. Perez, Matthew G. Salas, Alexander G. Smith, Daniel Soto and Rebecca Vargas.
These semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. Established in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is a competition for students who have excelled at the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Roughly 1.5 million juniors representing more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program which serves as an initial screen of program entrants.
Archbishop McCarthy High's 2016 National Merit Commended students are: Alec Arritola, Savaughn S. Cannady, Alejandro De La Cova, Andres E. De La Fe, Monica Diaz, Ronald J. Geis, Kelsey G. Kissane and Jenna L. Tingum.
Commended students represent 34,000 students nationally who are recognized for their exceptional academic promise. These students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2016 competition by taking the PSAT/NMSQT.
Those receiving National Hispanic Recognition are: John Albury, Alec Arritola, Alessandro Benadia, Alejandro De La Cova, Andres De La Fe, Monica Diaz, Sebastian Fuentes, Ronald Geis, Michael Perez, Veronica Roach, Matthew Salas, Andres Samos, Daniel Soto, Lara Suarez, and Rebecca Vargas.
The National Hispanic Recognition Program began in 1983, and identifies outstanding Hispanic high school students. To be eligible, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic, and score high on the PSAT/NMSQT.