Senior Mariangela Gascon Earns National Recognition
We’re celebrating senior Mariangela Gascon, one of more than 90,000 students across the country who earned academic honors from the College Board’s National Recognition Programs! Mariangela received an award from the National First-Generation Program.
The National Recognition Programs honor the strong academic achievements of underrepresented students, providing an opportunity to showcase their hard work in high school. These programs not only benefit students but also help nonprofit colleges and scholarship providers seeking to recruit talented individuals.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award, and it serves as a tremendous encouragement,” Mariangela said. “I am especially grateful to have had Ms. Wetzel during my freshman year; her guidance and support truly set me on a path toward excellence and inspired me to achieve the highest academic standards.”
Mariangela is an accomplished student, maintaining a 4.22 GPA. She is involved in soccer, Student Ambassadors, the National Honor Society, and the Spanish Club. A Holy Spirit Catholic School graduate and a Holy Spirit parishioner, Mariangela plans to attend San Diego State University or the University of Dayton to major in criminal justice.
The National Recognition Programs highlight students like Mariangela, who exemplify excellence and offer unique contributions to colleges and postsecondary programs. To qualify, students must meet criteria including:
- A GPA of B+ (3.3 or higher) or equivalent.
- Ranking in the top 10% of PSAT/NMSQT® or PSAT™ 10 assessment takers in their state for each program.
- Earning a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP® Exams by the end of 10th grade.
- Attending school in a rural area or small town, or identifying as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous/Native American, or a first-generation college student.
Students can apply during their sophomore or junior year, with awards announced at the beginning of the next school year. Congratulations, Mariangela, on this incredible accomplishment!
