Northern Garrett High School (NGHS) is proud to recognize two outstanding seniors for their exceptional academic achievements in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Mr. Timothy Brands has been named a Finalist, placing him among an elite group of students nationwide. Finalists are selected based on their high PSAT/NMSQT scores, academic record, leadership qualities, extracurricular involvement, and a detailed scholarship application. This distinction represents one of the highest academic honors a high school student can achieve. The selection of 6,870 Merit Scholarship winners from a group of more than 15,000 Finalists is now in progress. In March, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will begin notifying scholarship winners by email, and in April, major news media announcements will be made.
Mr. Hayden Gring has been named a Commended Student, a recognition awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional academic promise and who rank among the top scorers nationally on the qualifying exam. Although they do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students are placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the competition and are recognized for their outstanding potential for academic success.
The National Merit Scholarship Program, conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, honors students across the United States who demonstrate extraordinary academic ability. Each year, approximately 1.5 million students enter the competition, with only a small percentage receiving recognition.
