National Merit Commended Students

St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute is pleased to announce that three students have been recognized as Commended Students in the 2009 National Merit® Scholarship Program. Congratulations to seniors Marshall Binns, David Fortman and Zachary Lebold. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors.

At St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, Marshall Binns is a member of the Cross Country and Tennis Teams, as well as a member of Intramural Bowling, Food Basket Drive, National Honor Society, Chess Club, Collegiate Scholars, French Club, Long Book Club, Computer Club, Games of Strategy Club and Masterminds. Additionally, Marshall was part of the University at Buffalo’s CCR Summer Internship Program and is a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran School Youth Group.

David Fortman is also active at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute via his participation in National Honor Society, Big Brothers, Collegiate Summer, Recycling Club, Collegiate Scholars and Peer Tutoring. David is a member of the Varsity Volleyball and Basketball Teams, and has donated his time at St. Leo the Great Parish and Habitat for Humanity. As a junior he was named Kenmore-Tonawanda Youth of the Year and 1st Team All-Catholic Volleyball.

At St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, Zachary Lebold is a member of the Jazz Lab Band, Science Olympiad, National Honor Society, Collegiate Scholars and has participated in the spring musical and cross country. As a junior, Zachary received the Harvard Book Prize and was named a Presbyterian College Fellow and Most-Outstanding junior in the Jazz Lab Band. He has donated his time to the Salvation Army and to his Religious Education program.

Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2009 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2009 competition by taking the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute congratulates these fine young men on this outstanding academic accomplishment.