# @macjournalism on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C_4fIEbA_5p
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/23232449-macjournalism-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/7296b8ded1.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-09-14T03:32:45.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** McCallum Journalism (@macjournalism) — https://gondola.cc/macjournalism

## Caption

A STORY WITH A GOOD COMMENDING: Several students from McCallum were recognized on Sept. 4, sas National Merit Commended Scholars based on their high PSAT scores. Only 34,000 students a year are awarded as Commended Scholars in the entire country. 

Announced this Wednesday, seniors Camilla Vandegrift, Graham Randle and Emy Chen were named National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists, for earning exceptionally high PSAT scores. As a result, the trio is invited to apply for a National Merit Scholarship. According to the National Merit Scholarship, less than 1% of the nation’s graduating seniors will become semifinalists. 

Senior Emy Chen said she was shocked yet excited about the news of her award. 

“I was proud and mostly surprised,” Chen said. “National Merit always seemed so prestigious, so I’m really happy I got it.”

Chen said the little celebration held by College and Career Counselor Camille Nix and Principal Andy Baxa was nice for the award winners. 

“It was really nice of them to take us out of class and tell us, and it was fun to talk to everyone,” Chen said. 

Looking towards the future, Chen said she hopes to advance in the competition and potentially earn a scholarship. 

“I plan on applying, and we’ll see what happens,” Chen said. “It would definitely be cool if I got farther.”

Photos by Kiara Henry. Caption by Josie Mullan.

COMMENDED SCHOLARS. Front row: Tegan Rutherford, Miles Baade, Bella Lorenzini, Kalliope Haltom. Back row: Camilla Vandegrift, James Nesbitt, Graham Randle, Emy Chen, Nathan Howard, Conner Seale. Not pictured: Harper Jennings.

NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS: Camilla Vandegrift, Graham Randle, Emy Chen.

#KnightTime #NationalMerit #CommendedScholars #Semifinalists

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 383
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 2

## Tags

nationalmerit, semifinalists, knighttime, commendedscholars

---
Copyright (c) Gondola