Mr. Matthew D. Watson, Head of Aristoi’s Upper, is pleased to announce that Henry Botond, an Aristoi senior, has been recognized as a Commended Student in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. Mr. Botond has attended Aristoi since his first-grade year and is due to graduate this spring as a member of its second graduating class.

Of the 1.6 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores (calculated by doubling the sum of the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Test scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. In September, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist.

In late September, more than two-thirds (about 34,000) of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT® receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is typically below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit® Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

The College Board is beginning a new project, “Opportunity Scholarships” to encourage and help high school students, beginning with the Class of 2020, with the college application process, and to reward their efforts.

A calendar showing 5th-12th Grade Blue and Orange Days