Below is a press release from Austin Prep:
READING, MA — Austin Preparatory School is proud to announce that Madeleine Fisher and Tyler Mathew, both of Wilmington, have been named Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor awarded to just 34,000 students nationwide. This distinction places them among the top 0.75% of all high school juniors in the United States. Out of an estimated 4.5 million juniors nationwide, about 1.3 million entered the competition by taking the PSAT/NMSQT, from which the Commended Students were selected.
Commended Students are recognized for their exceptional academic promise and placed among the most academically accomplished high school seniors in the United States.
“Madeleine and Tyler exemplify the spirit of Austin Prep — curiosity, perseverance, and a commitment to growth,” said James Hickey, Ph.D., Head of School. “Being named Commended Students is a testament to their talents and to the supportive environment that encourages our students to thrive academically and personally.”
“I am grateful for my Austin Prep education that prepared me extremely well for the NMSQT exam,” said Tyler Matthew. “My success can be attributed to the college test prep class I took Junior year that taught me new test taking strategies. Additionally, I am thankful for my peers that push me everyday to excel academically.”
According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, Commended Students represent a “valuable national resource,” and their recognition is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in the nation.
Austin Preparatory School is an independent, Augustinian Catholic school serving young men and women in grades 6–12, located in Reading, Massachusetts.
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