National Merit Commended Scholar

In September, GHS Senior Nolan Gardner was notified of his recognition as a Commended Scholar by the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Nolan is one of approximately 34,000 nationwide who received a Letter of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school juniors enter the program each year, and approximately 50,000 qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Only the top 3-4% will qualify for Commended, and the top 1% will be named Semifinalists.

“The two main things that helped me were the prep course and taking the test multiple times,” Nolan said. “Each time I was able to retake it, I was able to come back stronger and I was able to improve my score each time.”

Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit scholarships, this elite group can become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

Nolan is currently taking dual credit classes and is en route to have an Associate Degree before graduating high school. Topping off his list of four-year universities are the University of Evansville and the University of Texas at Austin. Depending on acceptance and scholarship opportunities, Yale, UC San Diego, and Berkeley are on his “reach” list of possible universities. Nolan will be working towards becoming a psychiatrist.