Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently announced the names of approximately 50,000 Semifinalist and Commend Scholars in the 63^rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Among the names on the list of talented high schoolers were five students from Westminster Academy’s senior class. The students are Luke Bolton, Sarah Winston Folk, Jake Hickman, Lucy Jones, and Laurel Peckham. Commended Students are recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT. Approximately 34,000 high performers nationwide were named to the Commended Student list this year, representing the top one percent of all test takers in the country.
“Classical Christian education has the unique capacity to unlock a student’s full potential,” said Headmaster Ralph Janikowsky. “By teaching both the heart and mind together and fully engaging students in the great conversations of the ages, we partner with parents to prepare students to engage the 21^st century world for Christ.”
About 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2017 NMSC by taking the 2016 PSAT/NMSQT, which served as an initial screen of program entrants.