Note: Seniors Abbey Haines, Shelby Parkinson and Katie Parkinson were recognized earlier this year as National Merit Semifinalists. They appear in the photo above along with the National Merit Commended students. 

by Leigh Campbell

Ten STA seniors were recognized as National Merit Commended students for their performance on the 2012 PSAT. Out of over 1.5 million test takers, 34,0000 test takers are eligible for the recognition. Seniors Kathleen Blanck, Ciara Collins, Natalie Fitts, Madison Fitzgerald, Katherine Holt, Anna Kropf, Rachael Moran, Natalie Nuessle, Tessa Smith and Elizabeth Torres all received the honor.

“I missed the announcement for who were Commended scholars,” Holt said. “Ms.Wallerstedt told me congratulations and I was like ‘Thanks! For what?’”

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website, “in late September, more than two-thirds (about 34,000) of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise.”

“I love working with students and I love working with math and I think that the PSAT is something that is a little outside the box,” math and PSAT teacher Jo Weller said.

Commended scholars are eligible for certain scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website.