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9 seniors named National Commended students
Originally posted October 6, 2011
Several Union seniors were honored by the National Merit Program and the National Achievement Program for outstanding scores on their 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test (PSAT.NMSQT.) They are (pictured above, left to right) Daniel Roderick, Cody Byrd, Christopher Klaassen, Caleb Townsend, Brandon Jonely, James Rogers, Stephanie Steele, Michael Ripley, Elijah Bell, Thomas Castell, Raymond Yang, and Jordan Hoyt. Rogers and Jonely were named 2011 National Merit Semifinalists and are eligible to compete for National Merit Finalists which will be announced in February.
Nine Union High School seniors have been recognized as Commended Students as part of the 2011-12 National Merit Scholarship Program. Two seniors were recognized for their achievements in the same program for the Hispanic and African American communities.
The Commended Merit students are:
- Cody Alexander Byrd, son of Phillip and Debra Byrd of Broken Arrow
- Thomas Castell, son of Larry and Irene Castell of Tulsa
- Jordan Hoyt, son of Johnathan and Karen Hoyt of Broken Arrow
- Christopher Klaassen, son of Daniel and Katherine Klassen of Broken Arrow
- Michael Ripley, son of Jonathan and Margaret Ripley of Broken Arrow
- Daniel Roderick, son of Thomas and Sandra Roderick of Broken Arrow
- Stephanie Steele, daughter of Shannon and Susan Steele of Tulsa
- Caleb Townsend, son of James Townsend and Rose Wyrick of Tulsa
- Raymond Yang, son of Xiangyang Yang and Huifang Guo of Tulsa
A letter of commendation from Union High School and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, has been presented to the students. The nine Union students are among about 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation who have been recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2012 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2012 competition by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test (PSAT.NMSQT.)
“The young people named Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program are distinguished by their strong academic performance in this rigorous competition,” an NMSC spokesman said. “Our nation’s pursuit of educational excellence can be furthered by publicly honoring these outstanding students and by acknowledging the important role schools play in fostering their development. We hope that this recognition will contribute to their educational opportunities and encourage all students to strive to realize their potential.”
In addition to these honors, Daniel Roderick was honored by the College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program as a 2011-2012 Scholar. The National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) identifies nearly 5,000 outstanding Hispanic/Latino students each year. Although the NHRP does not provide a financial reward, being named is an important academic recognition. The program sends a list of all recognized students to subscribing colleges and universities that are particularly interested in academically outstanding seniors of Hispanic/Latino heritage. This nationwide list includes students from the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Mariana Islands and Marshall Islands, as well as U.S. citizens attending schools abroad. It also includes approximately 150 of the top scoring PAA™ students from Puerto Rico.
Another senior, Elijah T. Bell, son of Rasell Capers Skipper of Tulsa, was named a 2012 National Achievement Program Outstanding Participant after scoring in the top 3 percent of more than 160,000 African American students who took the same test. The National Achievement® Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students. Black students may enter both the National Achievement Program and the National Merit® Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) and meeting other published requirements for participation. The two annual programs are conducted concurrently but operated and funded separately. A student's standing is determined independently in each program. Black American students can qualify for recognition and be honored as Scholars in both the National Merit Program and the National Achievement Program, but can receive only one monetary award from NMSC.
Earlier this year, seniors Brandon Jonely and James Rogers were named 2011-2012 National Merit Semifinalists. Brandon Jonely is the son of Mary and Ronald Goss and AJ Jonely of Tulsa; James Rogers is the son of Marc and Marsha Rogers of Tulsa.
The students pose for a picture with 12th Grade Class Principal Gart Morris, campus director Dave Stauffer and 11th Grade Class Principal Lisa Witcher.
College and Careers Coordinator Christi Johnson talks with Elijah Bell about his academic recognition.
Campus director Dave Stauffer congratulates Daniel Roderick on his academic recognition.
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