A Hays High School moment of celebration puts a smile on the faces of Rebel senior Stephen Luna and his supporters (back, left to right) Hays High School Principal David Pierce, Academic Dean Teri Eubank, and College and Career Counselor Kathy Arendt. Luna, who’s considering what college to attend next fall, has been honored as a 2011-2012 scholar by the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program. (Photo by Jim Cullen)
by JIM CULLEN
It’s the season in which select local seniors join academic standouts from across the nation in receiving honors for their showing on national testing. This year, three local students received notification of high ranking among their peers after taking the annual Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
Lehman High School senior Madeleine Hewitt received the district’s highest honor this year, attaining Commended Student status in the National Merit Scholarship competition. The honor places Hewitt among the top five percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition for 2012 National Merit Scholarships. According to the letter of notification from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, about 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.
The sponsoring organization calls the Commended Student recipients a “ valuable national resource” and states that their recognition, “as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation.” Lehman High School principal Don Ruisinger concurs with this assessment of Hewitt and calls her “one of our true academic leaders, one with exceptional promise for the future.”
Hewitt is the daughter of Marie Davern of Kyle and Jason Hewitt of Austin.
In addition to the National Merit Scholarship general competition, for which Hewitt was commended, Hays High School’s Stephen Luna has been honored by the College Board as a 2011-2012 scholar in its National Hispanic Recognition Program. Lehman’s Ian Day has been honored as an Outstanding Participant in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.
Luna’s recognition represents an honor going to approximately 5,000 of the pool of 235,000 students taking the exam and identifying themselves as Hispanic. Hays High School Principal David Pierce says that the honoree continues to be a leader on campus and adds, “Not only does he excel in the classroom, he gives 110 percent to all that he does.” College and Career Counselor Kathy Arendt calls Stephen “a very determined, positive young man with great leadership skills,” which she predicts ensures his success in college. Luna is the son of Laura and Michael Frame of Austin.
Day’s recognition comes in a competition established for black high school students with scores among the top three percent of more than 160,000 students who requested entry in the competition. The National Achievement Scholarship program encourages Day to “be proud of the recognition you have earned” and “to develop your potential to the fullest.” Lehman Principal Ruisinger extended his enthusiastic congratulations on hearing the local scholar plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin next fall. Day is the son of Ronald and Jeanette Day of Kyle.
