Eastside Catholic School Celebrates Seven National Merit Scholarship Commended Students

Eastside Catholic School is thrilled to announce that seven outstanding students have been named National Merit Scholarship Commended Students for their exceptional academic achievements:

  • Justin Bernal
  • Sahil Chowdhury
  • Oliver Cobb
  • Emmett Compston
  • Jack Deily
  • Trent Ellis
  • Sylvie Macartney

These students are among 34,000 high school seniors across the nation recognized for their stellar performance on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), placing them in the top 50,000 out of over 1.3 million students who entered the competition. Although separate from the 16,000 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists, this commendation honors their remarkable academic potential and dedication.

Acting High School Principal Soonja Larsen praised the students for their achievement: “We are incredibly proud of Justin, Sahil, Oliver, Emmett, Jack, Trent and Sylvie. Their hard work, dedication and commitment to academic excellence are reflected in this recognition. They’ve demonstrated exceptional promise and have bright futures ahead.”

Three of the honorees—Justin Bernal, Emmett Compston and Trent Ellis—have been part of the Eastside Catholic community since middle school, underscoring the strength of the school’s academic programs.

Future Aspirations and Advice from the Honorees:

  • Justin Bernal, who plans to study math or engineering, advises, “Practice time management and get enough sleep.”
     
  • Sahil Chowdhury, with plans to pursue computer science, emphasizes the following three points:
     
    1. Ask questions. If you’re confused, don’t hesitate to ask questions in class. Teachers are there to help, and asking questions can clarify things for both you and your classmates.
       
    2. Use resources. Don’t be afraid to seek help, whether it's from tutors, teachers or online resources. Take advantage of study guides, extra credit and office hours when available.
       
    3. Balance study and fun. Don’t overwork yourself. It’s important to study, but also take breaks, hang out with friends and enjoy high school. Balance is essential.
       
  • Oliver Cobb, aspiring to study marine biology at Bowdoin University, encourages students to “Do all the things! Go to class events, participate in school departments you would otherwise brush off. You will meet communities you would have never encountered otherwise.”
     
  • Emmett Compston, who dreams of attending MIT to study engineering and physics, says, “Ask others for help instead of looking things up.”
     
  • Jack Deily, aiming to study economics and sociology at his dream school of Stanford, advises, “Don’t let yourself get boxed in. Try a bunch of stuff while you have the time to.”
     
  • Trent Ellis, planning to pursue genetic science or molecular microbiology, shares, “A class which is challenging but still possible to get good grades in looks far better than straight A’s. Sometimes having a transcript with an A- or even Bs on it tells colleges more.”
  • Sylvie Macartney is still undecided about her future major but offers simple wisdom: “Take the time to do the things you enjoy.”

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