Senior Montana Lagat named National Merit Commended Scholar

On October 22, senior Montana Lagat received her Letter of Commendation from her performance on the 2020 PSAT.

Oct. 22, 2021

Contributed by Shaundor Chillingworth

Hoʻomaikaʻi to class of 2022 senior Montana Lagat on officially being named a National Merit Commended Scholar for her performance on the 2020 PSAT!

This afternoon, joined by her ʻohana, Montana received her recognition certificate and lei celebrating this significant achievement, which places her among the top 50,000 students of the 1.5 million who entered the competition each year. Administration and counselors made the surprise announcement in a special ceremony during Hoʻōla.

Around 34,000 of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named based on a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is typically below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

Please join us in congratulating Montana on this acknowledgement and her hard work to achieve it.

For more information on the National Merit Scholarship Program visit nationalmerit.org.

Always a special part of recognizing students in these achievements is making sure their ʻohana are also in on the surprise to celebrate their child in this special moment. Mahalo to the Lagat ʻohana for being here this afternoon for the surprise.

School administration and counselors offered word of admiration and encouragement to Montana and her ʻohana, in fulfilling her academic promise in this special achievement and earning this recognition through hard work and perseverance.