Five Seniors Named National Merit Commended Scholars

Principal Jon Baffico announced the names of five students recognized as Commended Scholars in the highly competitive 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. He presented each one with their certificates this week.

 

These talented students include Clare Amidei, Elliott Heckard, Benjamin Konopka, Ainslie McKenna, and Abin Vargheese.

 

"For our students to be recognized for exceptional academic promise affirms what Saint Viator strives to accomplish as an institution,” Mr. Baffico says, “that is to help students reach their full potential academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually."

 

The seniors were named Commended Scholars after taking the PSAT test as sophomores in 2023. They are now recognized as being among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2025 scholarship competition.

 

The announcement came one week after three additional students in the class — Owen Kelly, Henry Marshall, and Aidan McLeod — were named National Merit Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

All of these students singled out for recognition are among the highest-scoring entrants in the state.

"Those 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,” the spokesperson added. “We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success."