National Recognition
Hoban's academic standards are illustrated through student achievements. The number of students recognized each year by the National Merit Scholarship Program® and the College Board is a testament to Hoban's faculty and the quality of a Hoban education.
National Merit Scholarship Program
Being recognized, at any level, by the National Merit Scholarship Program® is a high achievement for both the student and their school. They represent the top performing students in the nation. Hoban is proud to have a long-standing tradition of naming students recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. In the last five years, 42 students have been recognized, more than any other school in Summit County.
About the National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. According to their website, approximately 1.6 million high school students enter the program each year.
Of the 1.6 million entrants, about 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. In September, Hoban is notified of the students who have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist.
Commended Students
About 34,000 students receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is typically below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.
Semifinalists
Approximately 16,000 students qualify as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis. Semifinalists are the highest scoring entrants in each state. Qualifying scores vary from state to state and from year to year, but the scores of all Semifinalists are extremely high. NMSC provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit® Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the information provided to each Semifinalist.
Finalists
Only about 15,000 Semifinalists advance to Finalist standing. High school principals are notified and provided with a Certificate of Merit to present to each Finalist. These students are qualified to potentially receive a Merit Scholarship award.
Three Hoban seniors Thomas Crowe, Alaina Lah and Isabelle Hahn have been named National Merit Semifinalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Competition.
In addition, students designated as Commended Students will be announced in mid-September. Hoban is proud to have a long-standing tradition of naming more students recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program than any other school in Summit County.
Six seniors named commended students in the 2021 National Merit competition
Six Hoban seniors have been designated as Commended Students in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program based on their scores on the PSAT they took as juniors. Joshua Fenn, Samuel Fess, Jacob Juvan, Owen Kovalik, Jonathan Popa and Grace Wyszynski are recognized for their exceptional academic promise but will not continue in the competition for scholarships. Last week, three seniors were named semifinalists.
| NATIONAL MERIT THROUGH THE YEARS | ||||
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Class of 2008 |
Class of 2009 |
Class of 2010 |
Class of 2011 |
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Finalists:
Commended Students:
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Finalists:
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Finalists:
Outstanding Participant:
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Finalists:
Commended Students:
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Class of 2012 |
Class of 2013 |
Class of 2014 |
Class of 2015 |
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Finalists:
Semifinalist:
Commended Students:
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Semifinalists:
Commended Students:
National Hispanic
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Semifinalist:
Commended Students:
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Finalists:
Commended Students:
National Achievement
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Class of 2016 |
Class of 2017 |
Class of 2018 |
Class of 2019 |
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Finalists:
Semifinalist:
Commended Students:
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Finalists:
Commended Students:
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Finalists:
Commended Students:
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Finalist:
Commended Students:
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Class of 2020 |
Class of 2021 |
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Finalists:
Semifinalist:
Commended Students:
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Finalists:
Semifinalist:
Commended Students:
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Advanced Placement Scholars
The College Board recognized Hoban students in 2020 based on the results of the Advanced Placement Examinations. Hoban had 35 AP Scholars, 8 AP Scholars with Distinction, 8 AP Scholars with Honor and 1 National AP Scholar.
- AP Scholars: Thomas Bee, Daniel Bordenkircher, Audrey Ruscak, Andrew Scott, Christina Worcester, Thomas Crowe, Ian Davey, Joshua Fenn, Isabelle Hahn, Luke Kolasky, Owen Kovalik, Alaina Lah, Celia Mattler, Luke Monteleone, Jonathan Popa, Rebecca Vober, Alexander Wong and Nina Zaynor
- AP Scholars with Distinction: Ayaka Coffman, Allison Ewald, Tanner Guld, Isabelle Kolleth, Rebecca Kubick, Veronica McDowell, Evelyn Thoman and Samuel Fess
- AP Scholars with Honor: Xavier Dirker, Aaron Bielecki, Madelyn Ferree, Brock Monteleone, Joseph Osmun, Grace Rossi, Alexis Smith and Nicholas Smith
- National AP Scholar: Tanner Guld
Advanced Placement courses give students the chance to tackle college-level work while still in high school and earn college credit and placement. AP classes help students acquire the skills and habits needed to be successful in college. They help students improve writing skills, sharpen problem-solving abilities and develop time management skills, discipline and study habits. For more information about the College Board's AP Program, click HERE.
The quality which defines the students of a Holy Cross education heritage is the training of the hearts as well as the minds.
–Blessed Basil Moreau | Founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross