LSMSA announces 2026 National Merit Commended Students

The students are Monika Garlapati of West Monroe; Kenzie Gradney of Denham Springs; Faith Grahmann of Lafayette; Logan Parker of Baton Rouge; Patrick Perdue of Prarieville; and Benny Zheng of Houma.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2026 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2026 competition by taking the 2024 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.”

 

A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors.

 

Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is Louisiana’s top state-supported residential high school, offering selective admissions for the state’s high-achieving, highly motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors. As a public school, there is no tuition, and support from the LSMSA Foundation ensures the program remains accessible to all qualified students regardless of financial need. 

 

To learn more go online to LSMSA.EDU.