Salem High Students Earn National Merit, AP Honors, Adams Scholarships

SALEM, MA — Salem High School announced academic honors for students in the Class of 2026, including National Merit Commended Student recognition, College Board School Recognition Awards, AP Scholar Awards, and eligibility for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.

"The accomplishments of our students reflect a group of young people who have fully embraced both the rigor and the opportunities available at Salem High School," Salem High Principal Glenn Burns said. "From national recognition through the PSAT, to outstanding performance in Advanced Placement coursework, and the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, our students continue to demonstrate that what is happening in our classrooms is both meaningful and impactful.

"Salem High students have not only achieved at a high level academically, but they have also set a standard for what is possible when students are supported, challenged, and inspired to excel."

Four Salem High students were named National Merit Commended Students: Joel Mulsman, Gavin Ryan, Annalise Thornett, and William Towne.

About 34,000 of the highest-scoring students nationwide receive that recognition from the approximately 1.3 million students who take the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Fourteen students earned the College Board School Recognition Award: Kira Bester, Lucas Fox, Tessa Laufman, Eden McClain, Joel Mulsman, Gemma Murphy, Raymond Nguyen, Gina Nunez Roman, Gavin Ryan, Mia Silva, Annalise Thornett, William Towne, Brooks Workman, and Rylan Workman

To qualify, students must place in the top 10 percent of their school's PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 test takers, earn a 3 or higher on two or more distinct AP exams by 10th grade, or meet both measures.

Thirty-one students earned College Board AP Scholar Awards. Those honors include AP Scholar with Distinction, AP Scholar with Honor and AP Scholar, based on AP exam averages and the number of exams with scores of 3 or higher.

The AP Scholar With Distinction Awards are granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams: Kira Bester, Alexia Coleman, Lucas Fox, Eden McClain, Mia Silva, Annalise Thornett, William Towne, Brooks Workman, and Rylan Workman.

The AP Scholar With Honor Awards are granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams: Shea Christel, Elizabeth Mahady, Emily Mercier, Sam Mulligan, Joel Mulsman, Gemma Murphy, Raymond Nguyen, Nancy Reed, Gavin Ryan, and Wyn Stevick.

The AP Scholar Awards are granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.0 on all AP exams taken on three or more exams: Mariam Aleksanyan, Clarice Catbagan, Camryn Franklin, Anson Froeschl, Kai Gillis, Guywintz Jules, Lucas Lopez, Olivia Loux, Donald Masella, Makoma Moreno, Lily Navins, Elizabeth O'Connell

The largest group recognized was for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship — a merit-based program that provides college tuition credits for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study at a Massachusetts state college or university.

Salem High said 61 students in the Class of 2026 are eligible based on grade 10 MCAS performance, including scoring Advanced on one exam and Proficient or Advanced on the other, while ranking in the top 25 percent of MCAS scores in the district.

Those students were: Mariam Aleksanyan, Daniel Alley, Aaron Babb, Casey Benson, Kira Bester, Connor Buckley, Clarice Catbagan, Tenley Cederholm, Shea Christel, Em Clark, Alexia Coleman, Javion Cruz, Elizabeth Diaz, Brynn Doyle, Tanajah Encarnacion Cespedes, Madeleine Finamore, Lucas Fox, Camryn Franklin, Anson Froeschl, Kai Gillis, Hadassah Hunt, August Hunter, Guywintz Jules, Aaron Kerins, Nathaniel Lane, Alyssa Lebrun, Lucas Lopez, Gianna Lougee, Olivia Loux, Elizabeth Mahady, Carly Mannino, Donald Masella, Mallory McCarthy, Eden McClain, Emily Mercier, Makoma Moreno, Sam Mulligan, Joel Mulsman, Gemma Murphy, Lily Navins, Raymond Nguyen, Anthony Nolasco, Elizabeth O'Connell, Isabella Ortiz Cruz, Jamiel Pepen, Johan Polanco, Carlos Polanco Ramirez, Mason Potorski, Nancy Reed, Gavin Ryan, Mia Silva, Wyn Stevick, Sindi Sula, Carl Sverker, Karly Swiniarski, Darren Taku, Annalise Thornett, William Towne, Theodore Winsor, Brooks Workman, and Rylan Workman.