NRHS PRINCIPAL Anthony Loprete (at far left) recently presented Letters of Commendation to three NRHS seniors. Named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship program were (from left): Aakash Stewart, Michael Mahoney and Raffi Toby. (Courtesy Photo)
NORTH READING ⏤ North Reading High School seniors, Michael Mahoney, Aakash Stewart, and Raffi Toby, received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which recognizes them as Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship program.
The NMSC is a non-profit organization that operates without government assistance and was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship program.
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. From a field of about 1.5 million juniors who take the PSAT test, roughly 3 percent qualify for special recognition. This adds up to about 50,000 students, two-thirds of whom, or about 34,000, are commended. The remaining one-third moves on to the semi-final stage.
“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for the 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.”
