Jon Vollendorf, principal of Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH), announced three SPASH students – Avalon McDonald-Lewis, Samantha Strook and Erin Tschida – have been named as Commended Students in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.

A letter of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) will be presented by the principal to the three seniors.

Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Students have placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2017 competition by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” said a spokesperson for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

“These students represent a valuable national resource. Recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role that their schools play in academic development is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help to broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success,” the spokesperson said.