Six LSMSA seniors named Commended Students in 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program

A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, has been presented by the school to McKenzie Barker (’24) of Benton; Ainsley Hanes (’24) of Shreveport; Parker Lagman (’24) of Mandeville; Layla Navarre (’24) of Sulphur; Sam Ryan (’24) of Sugartown; and Phillip Voorhees (’24) of Gulfport, Miss.

“We are beyond proud of these students,” said Interim Director of Academic Affairs and Principal Lecturer of Sciences Dr. Jason Anderson. “It takes an exceptional scholar to even be admitted to the Louisiana School, much less excel in this way while getting an education here. Congratulations are certainly deserved.”

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2024 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2024 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“Those 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.”

LSMSA, highly ranked both as one of the World’s Best Boarding Schools by Fortune magazine and for academics and top faculty by Niche, is a tuition-free, public high school for high-achieving rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a nominal room and board fee to cover housing, meals, and campus activities. The LSMSA Foundation offers assistance for families in need to ensure no eligible student is denied the school’s 40-year legacy of a premium college-level living/learning experience.