Schools

Seven from Downers Grove North Named National Merit Commended Students

The seven students ranked among the top 5 percent of the roughly 1.5 million students who took the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Seven seniors from Downers Grove North High School have been recognized as "Commended Students" in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. 

Students who earned "commended" distinction show "outstanding academic promise,” according to the NMSC. 

Approximately 34,000 Commended Students are recognized from around the nation each year. Although these students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, these Commended Students place among the top 5 percent of the roughly 1.5 million students who took the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). 

Students are selected based on test scores, an essay, their schools’ curricula and school official recommendations, as well as involvement in activities and leadership.

The following seniors from Community High School District 99 were cited as 2014 National Merit Commended students: 

  • Benjamin Cockrill (North High School student from Downers Grove)
  • Jeremy Craven (North High School student from Downers Grove)
  • Brian Grippando (North High School student from Downers Grove)
  • Justine Hung (North High School student from Downers Grove) 
  • Marc Mathy (North High School student from Downers Grove)
  • Samuel Meegan (North High School student from Downers Grove)
  • Arjun Menon (North High School student from Woodridge)


“We are proud of all of these students and congratulate them on the achievement of being recognized in this prestigious program,” Downers Grove North Principal Scott Kasik said in a statement.


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