La Lumiere seniors, Sarah J. Gillen of La Porte and Maximillian J. Zaccone of Michigan City were named Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. Sarah, daughter of Greg and Judy Gillen, is a member of the National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, and the varsity crew team. Max, son of Kevin and Gerti Zaccone of Michigan City, is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, the varsity crew team, and served as a page for Senator Bohacek in the 120th Indiana General Assembly.
Commended Students placed among the top three percent of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2018 competition by taking the 2016 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," commented a spokesperson for 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."