Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Nineteen seniors from Spring Branch ISD high schools were named as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. 

Students become eligible for this national scholarship program when they take the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as juniors. Semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of the high school graduating class in Texas and rank as the nation’s highest scoring test takers.

This year’s Spring Branch ISD semifinalists are from Memorial High School (MHS), Spring Branch Academic Institute (SBAI), Stratford High School (SHS), and Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS). These semifinalists now have an opportunity to qualify for National Merit Finalist awards, which will be announced in February 2022.

2021-2022 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists 

• Angela Alvarado (WAIS)
• Sophie Czelusta (MHS)
• Cameron Donley (SHS)
• Victoria Gong (MHS)
• Megan Guy (SHS)
• Ahmad Hadidi (MHS)
• Stephen Kang (MHS)
• Avantika Matele (MHS)
• Delaney Polocheck (MHS)
• Chloe Pruett (MHS)
• Joowon Seok (MHS)
• Lena Sugg (MHS)
• Lane VanderVoort (MHS)
• Lauren Wall (MHS)
• Caden Wang (SHS)
• John Weatherly III (SHS)
• Daniel Xu (MHS)
• Alex Yoon (MHS)
• Alex Zhang (SBAI)

More than 60 Spring Branch ISD students also are represented in College Board National Recognition Programs, all of which create pathways to college for underrepresented students by awarding them academic honors and connecting them with universities across the country.

Students with a 3.5 GPA or higher who identify as African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latino, or Indigenous and meet one of the following requirements are invited to apply for the national recognition from the College Board: 

• Take the PSAT 10 in the spring of their sophomore year and score in the top 10 percent in their state
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of their junior year and score in the top 10 percent in their state
• Earn a score of three or higher on two or more AP exams by their junior year 

Congratulations to the juniors and seniors who have achieved the following recognitions:

African American National Recognition recipients:

• Treasure Mulkey (MHS)
• Lotachuckwu Nwaukwa (MHS)
• William Patton (SWHS)
• Bria Singh (SWHS)

Indigenous National Recognition recipients:

• Alec Ruiz (MHS)
• Marshall Williams (MHS)
• Kevin Villalobos (SWHS)

Hispanic/Latino National Recognition recipients:

Northbrook High School:

• Celeste Cabrales
• Edwyn Gonzalez Mendoza

Yes Prep at Northbrook High School:

• Luis Calderon
• Daira Calixto
• Brithany Flores
• Eduardo Lopez
• Emily Romero
• Jennifer Silva

Spring Woods High School:

• Sara Garcia
• Paul Gonzalez
• Alan Gonzalez   
• Sebastian Guevara
• Israel Itzep
• Brandon Julian Gonzalez
• Corin Kenny
• Christopher Lopez
• Ana Martinez
• Shelsey Ramirez
• Kevin Villalobos

Memorial High School:

• Isabel Acevedo
• Jasmine Aguilar
• Wyatt Behan
• Garrett Blanton
• Alexander Canedo
• Aleksy Cavazos
• Daniela Contreras
• Mitchell DeAyala
• Natalia Diaz
• Paula Diaz Faccini
• Marco Ferrier
• Patricia Freytes
• Jordan Heath
• Isabel Heckler
• Marissa Hines
• Caroline Holub
• Leila Ibrahim
• Isabel Jakobsen
• Dylan Jones
• Alexander Kelly
• Gabriela Lyle
• Mia Mancheski
• Isabella Mendoza
• Oscar Morales
• Antonio Noyola
• Madelyn Olive
• Cecilia Rizo-Patron
• Alec Ruiz
• Jeronimo Ruiz-Ocampo
• Ashley Salazar-Martinez
• Ethan Schutt
• Anissa Settipalli
• Madeline Stieglitz
• Morgan Valdivieso
• Michelle Venegas Torres
• Julia Williams
• Caroline Zaleski
• Ryan Zaragoza

Student honorees and their families were recognized on Monday, October 18 at the regular monthly meeting of the Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees.