New Paltz High School Principal Barbara Clinton has announced that three scholastically talented New Paltz seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program, which honors the nation’s scholastic champions and encourages their pursuit of academic excellence. As Commended Students, Erin Barclay, Matthew Landolfa and Melanie Schmidt will each receive a “Letter of Commendation” from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
The three New Paltz students are among a group of about 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation who are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. 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 Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
“The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
Established in 1955, the NMSC is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, giving recognition and scholarships to outstanding students. Scholarships awarded through the program are underwritten by NMSC and approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions that share the organization’s goals of promoting educational excellence among students.
Join the family! 
