Yonkers Scholar at Dominican Academy Commended in National Merit Scholarship Program

Mariel R. Named Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program

Leslie Petit, Ed.D., Dominican Academy principal, and Alexandria M. Egler, Ph.D., the school’s president, announced Yonkers resident Mariel R., as a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Mariel was among the eight Dominican Academy students who were commended, along with one student who was named a semi-finalist.

“Mariel has shown exceptional academic excellence at Dominican Academy,” said Dr. Petit, principal. “Her dedication to learning and her drive for excellence inspires her classmates and brings great pride to our school.”

Each commended student received a letter of commendation and congratulatory message from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which oversees the program. 

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 competition by taking the 2023 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.”