Cary-Grove Honors 11 Students Named as Commended Scholars

Cary-Grove High School this fall has a record-breaking number of students earning "commended" honors through the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Principal Jay Sargeant held an honorary breakfast Wednesday morning for the 11 students who have earned the "commended" status, along with four of those students who also have been named National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists.

Cary-Grove High School had a total of nine commended students in the Class of 2013. Three of those students were named National Merit Scholarship program semifinalists. 

Sargeant credited the students, parents and teachers for this year's success.

"These students are pretty motivated," Sargeant said. "Plus, we have great families who care a lot about education. And we are getting more and more kids who are signing up for these more rigorous classes."

The National Merit Scholarship Program is based upon PSAT scores. Students must achieve a 99 percent on the test in order to qualify for the honor. 

Semifinalists must take the SAT and submit an application to continue the process. Eight thousand National Merit Scholarships, worth about $35 million, will be awarded next spring.

The four Cary-Grove students named as National Merit Scholarship Program semi-finalists include:

1. John H Gibbons
2. Sylvia M Davidovicz Smith
3. Michael J Spoerl
4. Kevin J Wilde

1. Sarah J. Bessonny
2. Joseph J. Brommel
3. Chelsea L. Coetzee
4. Nathaniel M. Dvorak
5. Andrew T. Eberlein
6. Bryan Lippert
7. Julia C. Mitchell

Crystal Lake Central has two commended students:

1. Ethan Lockwood
2. Elizabeth Sviegelj

Crystal Lake South has three commended students:

1. Gray Edstrom
2. Joseph Fues
3. Silpa Gali

Prairie Ridge has one commended student:

1. Samuel Llaneta