A group of 20 Spring ISD juniors and seniors representing all five of the district’s high schools have been named among this year’s National Recognition Program Scholars by the College Board. The group – which includes eight National African American Recognition Program Scholars and 12 National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars – were eligible for the recognition based on their GPA and their high PSAT and AP Exam scores.
“I’m excited about the number of recognized scholars in both College Board recognition programs,” said Assistant Superintendent of Research, Assessment, and Accountability Dr. Jennifer Cobb. “Our students have been working hard to reach college readiness levels that allow for future opportunities in their postsecondary education. We are excited about their future endeavors!”
According to materials from the College Board, to be eligible for the National Recognition Program, students must have a 3.5 GPA or higher and identify as African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, or attend school in a rural area or small town. In addition, they must meet one of the following requirements: take the PSAT 10 in the spring of their sophomore year and score in the top 10% by state; take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of their junior year and score in the top 10% by state; or earn a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP exams by their junior year.
The program is designed to honor student accomplishments, and to help create additional pathways to college for underrepresented students. Students can include the academic honors on college and scholarship applications, and colleges around the country also use the list of honorees to identify high-potential students from underrepresented groups.
Spring ISD Chief of Innovation and Equity Dr. Lupita Hinojosa also congratulated the recipients of this year’s honors, and emphasized the importance of campus and family support structures that help students achieve high levels of academic success and college and career readiness.
“This recognition is a testament to our students’ hard work and to the commitment of our teachers to deliver a high-quality education,” Hinojosa said. “Along with celebrating our students’ accomplishment, we also congratulate and thank their families, our teachers, counselors and all staff who have guided and supported them in the path to this recognition.”
The Spring ISD students named College Board National Recognition Program Scholars are listed below by their home campus.
Dekaney High School
- Teon Golden, College Board National African American Recognition Program Scholar
- Cali Johnson, College Board National African American Recognition Program Scholar
Spring Early College Academy
- Micah Bryant, College Board National African American Recognition Program Scholar
- Berenice Contreras, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Nosakhare Iyoha, College Board National African American Recognition Program Scholar
- Mihael Mendo, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Alexis Santacoloma, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Devin Smith, College Board National African American Recognition Program Scholar
Spring High School
- Jeanna Edquist, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
Westfield High School
- Krystal Nunez, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Edward Lindsay, College Board National African American Recognition Program Scholar
Wunsche High School
- Adam Bueno, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Alejandra Cozajay, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Fiorela Benitez, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Glenda Galo, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Robert Ventura, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Santiago Reyes, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Thomas Saenz, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Ariana Chappell, College Board National African American Recognition Program Scholar
- Douglas Ford, College Board National African American Recognition Program Scholar