-
Alex Iyer -
Gracie Janse -
Pauline Rahal
Geneva is proud to announce that three seniors earned recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Alex Iyer was named as National Merit Commended Scholar, National Rural/Small Town Scholar. Pauline Rahal was named a National Hispanic Scholar, National Rural/Small Town Scholar and Gracie Janse was named a National Rural/Small Town Scholar. These students achieved this award for their academic accomplishment on the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
“We are certainly proud of these students and this extraordinary accomplishment and are grateful for the opportunities that may arise through National Merit recognition,” Geneva Interim Head of School Amy Metzger said.
Alex is the son of Reena and Rajeesh Iyer of San Antonio; Pauline is the daughter of Paula Jaramillo and Andres Rahal of Fair Oaks Ranch; and Gracie is the daughter of Maureen and Scott Janse of Boerne. These students are members of the 2021 Senior Class which will be the 11th class to graduate from Geneva. This is also the 11th consecutive Geneva School Senior Class to have members earning National Merit recognition.
“Our method of education does not aim at producing National Merit scholars or savvy test-takers, but it is gratifying to see it happen along the way,” Geneva Rhetoric School Headmaster Rob Shelton said.
Over 1.5 million students took the PSAT last October and entered the National Merit Programs, a nationwide competition for the recognition and awards conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Nationally, 16,000 students were named Semifinalists and 34,000 were named Commended Students.
Students are considered for the Rural and Small Town Recognition Program based on the location of their high school. Areas are considered rural and small town based on location data from the National Center for Education Statistics. To be selected, students must score in the top 2.5% on the PSAT/NMSQT among high school junior test takers in their region.
In addition, students are selected to participate in the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) when they score in the top 2.5% on the PSAT/NMSQT among all Hispanic and Latino test-takers in each region.