Lincoln-Way Students Honored For National Merit Achievements

NEW LENOX, IL — At the Feb. 21 meeting, the Board of Education honored several students for their exceptional scholastic achievements in the National Merit Scholarship Program. The district said the National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Of the 1.6 million entrants, approximately 50,000 test takers with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

More than two-thirds of the 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT receive Letters of
Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. One-third of the
50,000 high scorers are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists.

“To the parents, thank you for giving your children the support needed to develop the
confidence to excel academically and prove that they could compete on the national
level,” Michelle Newswander, PPS Director at Lincoln-Way Central, said in a release. “Students, we hope that you know how very proud we are of each of you. You are to be commended
and congratulated for your academic efforts and achievements. We offer you our best
wishes and the hope that being recognized by the National Merit Program will broaden
your horizons and encourage you to develop your potential to the fullest.”

Students recognized by the board were:

Lincoln-Way Central Commended Students: Thomas Cook, Tyler Danielewicz, Alexandra DeBello, Amanda Finn, Gianna Gricus, Jonah Haskins, Justin Lundy, Beau Magro, Julia Martin and James Mountford.

Lincoln-Way Central National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars: Julia Martin and James Mountford.

Lincoln-Way East Commended Students: Thomas C. Arndt, Jacob J. Heimlich, Dominic M. Vilatte, Jenna A. Yassin and Joseph C. Zobel.

Lincoln-Way West Commended Students: Kyle Auchstetter and Kiah Jurgens.

Lincoln-Way West Finalist: Oliver Mate

Lincoln-Way West National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar: Jared Podgorny