Three Lemont High School Students Earn National Merit Scholar Honors

Three students have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship program for their outstanding performances on the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Seniors Rebecca Baker, Marjorie Dallmann and Alison Rehfus all were cited with National Merit Commended Scholar distinction — an honor given to the top five percent of all students in the United States who took the PSAT/NMSQT last year.

More than 1.5 million high school juniors took the PSAT/NSMQT in 2010. Approximately 16,000 students were named as National Merit Scholar Semifinalists and roughly 34,000 students were designated as Commended Scholars, according to Tony Hamilton, director of school and community relations for District 210.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, founded in 1955, is a non-profit organization that operates without government assistance. Its scholarships are underwritten by its own funds and approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions.

The organization's goal is to honor the nation's scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.