Four East Hartford Public Schools Seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. The students received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recognizing their achievements and exceptional academic promise. Congratulations to East Hartford High School Seniors Aiden Paradis and Farah Shahab. Connecticut IB Academy Seniors Naga Sai Aditya Narayana and Keira Sullivan were also named Commended Students. Although these students will not continue in the 2026 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, this is an immense accomplishment. Those named Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers across the country on the 2024 PSAT. “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.”