West Hempstead Secondary School senior Babacar Seck, left, was named as a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program on Sept. 22. He was joined by Secondary School Principal Joe Pumo.

West Hempstead Secondary School Principal Joseph Pumo announced on Sept. 22 that senior Babacar Seck was named as a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. A letter of commendation from the secondary school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, was presented to Seck by Mr. Pumo. 

“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NSMC. “These students present 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.” 

Seck is among the roughly 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation who are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although Seck will not continue in the 2024 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2024 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMQST). 

The West Hempstead School District congratulates Seck on earning this distinction.