College Board National Recognition Program

Congratulations to the six students named Semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program: Max Erdmann, Santiago Felix-Padilla, Andres Hoyos, Julian Quijano, Renier Quintero, and Luis Souto. 

Nationally, about 16,000 students, less than 1% of the nation’s graduating high school seniors, are named National Merit Program Semifinalists, representing the top scorers in each state. More than two-thirds (about 34,000) of high scorers are designated as Commended Students. They are named based on a nationally applied Selection Index qualifying score that may vary from year to year.

We are also proud to announce that 12 students received Commended status in the National Merit Scholarship Program: Marco Alberni, Nicholas Barales, Pablo Castro, David Fernandez, Guido Gerstl, Raul Gomez-Piña, Manuel Irurita, Alejandro Lurigados, Marcelo Martel, Jose Romano, Matthew Vila, and Ian Wolstenholme.

Every year, talented students claim an award based on their achievement on College Board assessments, including the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and AP® Exams. In 2025, the program offered three awards to students of all backgrounds and across schools nationwide: First-Generation Recognition Award, Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, and for the first time, the School Recognition Award, to honor top-performing students in every high school, including lesser-known schools. This year, 106 Belen Jesuit students were awarded with the School Recognition Award and 11 the First Generation Recognition Award (noted with an asterisk). Total recipients are 109.

Aguado, Cesar

Alber, Julian

Alberni, Marco

Alireza, Emil *

Alvarado-Toyos, Marcos

Amador, John

Atwood, Connor *

Bachour, Gabriel *

Balestrini, Diego

Barales, Nicholas

Battistini, Nicolas

Berga, Diego

Berga, Marco

Bethel, Nicolas

Caban, David Michael

Camara, Jeronimo

Cantos Hulett, Carlos

Capote Coto, Alejandro

Carrasco, Matthew

Carreno, Javier

Carrillo, Ignacio

Casado, Jorge *

Castelo, Sebastian

Castro, Pablo

Corral, Tristan

Costa, Eduardo

De Angulo, Christopher

de Quesada, Branden

De Toro, Ignacio

Diaz, Lucas

Duplat, Santiago

Eckardt, Gustavo

Erdmann, Carlos

Erdmann, Max

Espinosa, Santiago

Fals, Christopher

Felix-Padilla, Santiago

Fernandez-Campa, Enrique

Fernandez, Austin

Fernandez, David

Fernandez, Nikolas

Garzon, Luciano

Gerstl, Guido

Gil-Cabada, Lucas

Gomez-Pina, Raul

Gonzalez, James

Guillaume, Micael

Guon, Daniel

Hernandez, Lucas *

Hernandez, William

Hoyos, Andres

Irurita, Manuel

Kelly, Connor

Kiami Gimenez, Anthony

Lacayo, Gabriel

Lazo, Julian

Leanez, Juan Diego

Leon, Luciano *

Levy, Lucas

Logue, James

Lopez Seda, Carlos

Lopez, Carlos

Lurigados, Alejandro

Martel, Marcelo

Martinez, Miguel

Mederos, David

Melcon, Manuel

Minaya, Fernando

Monge, Mattias

Montaner Bril, Juan

Montiel, Orlando

Moreno, Gabriel

Moscoso, Francisco

Nader, Nayib

Narino, Marcel

Nieto, Ryan

Oliveros, Leman

Otero, Joaquin

Paez-Quintero, Sebastian

Parra, Simon *

Pedraja, William

Plasencia, Andres

Purroy, Jose Ramon

Quijano, Julian

Quinones, Daniel

Quintero, Renier

Rodriguez Novoa, Carlos

Rodriguez, Michael

Romano, Jose

Ros, Jorge

Rovira, Lucas *

Salom, Liam

Saumell, David

Scott, Rafael *

Sosa III, Alberto *

Souto, Luis

Suniga, Sebastian

Toledo, Justin

Torbay, Camil *

Valdes, Nicolas

Vazquez, Juan

Vega, Alejandro

Vega, Gustavo

Vila, Matthew

Vila, Michael

Vilberg, Jason James

Wolstenholme, Ian

Yanes, Ignacio

Zantua, Michael

“We are so proud and thrilled that our students have earned this recognition for their achievements in the classroom and on the College Board assessment,” said Principal José E. Roca ‘84. “This honor reinforces their exceptional achievements in high school and will support them in their pursuit of a wonderful future. They each exemplify the core values instilled in our young men daily.”

Students verify their eligibility for the College Board National Recognition Programs during their sophomore or junior year by meeting the following criteria: