Highland High School (HHS) senior Joshua Haviland has been named a Commended Student in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, earning recognition for his exceptional academic achievement.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition among high school students for recognition and college scholarships. Students enter the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) during their junior year.

Commended Students have the distinction of placing among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2027 competition by taking the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT. Although he will not continue in this year’s competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Joshua is part of a group of approximately 34,000 students across the nation being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.

“Joshua’s recognition as a Commended Student is a tremendous accomplishment and a reflection of the hard work and dedication he has demonstrated throughout his time at Highland,” said HHS Principal Brandon Opitz. “We are incredibly proud to see him recognized on a national level and look forward to all that he will accomplish in the future.”

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success. The organization noted that recognizing these students and the role their schools play in their academic development is important to advancing educational excellence.

The Highland Central School District congratulates Joshua on this well-deserved recognition and wishes him continued success throughout his senior year and beyond.