The principal, Kelli Barbour, of Triad High School is proud to announce that Riley Cannon and Reid Heffren have been named Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, was presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors. Principal Barbour noted, “Being named a Commended Student is a remarkable academic achievement that reflects their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence throughout their academic career. This recognition is awarded to students who scored in the top 3-4% of over 1.5 million students nationwide. We are so proud of Riley and Reid. They are both the true definition of a well-rounded student. ”
Approximately 34,000 Commended Students nationwide are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. 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 develpment, is vital to the advancemnt of educational excellence in our nation. We hope tht this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”