Students at Merrillville Community School Corporation Nationally Recognized by the College Board

The 2025 National Recognition Program awarded over 280,000 high-performing students to help them stand out to colleges 

Merrillville Community School Corporation is proud to celebrate the achievements of its students who earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program. 

The program, available on BigFuture®, helps students stand out on college and scholarship applications. Every year, talented students claim an award based on their achievement on College Board assessments, including the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSATTM 10, and AP® Exams. 

In 2025, the program offered three awards to students of all backgrounds and across schools nationwide: First-Generation Recognition Award, Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, and for the first time, the School Recognition Award, to honor top-performing students in every high school, including lesser-known schools. 

This year, 45 students at Merrillville High School were awarded. 

“We’re incredibly proud of our students and to see them recognized for their dedication and excellence,” said MHS Assistant Principal of Guidance, Julie Witkowski. “This honor reinforces their exceptional achievements in high school and will support them in their pursuit of a big future.” 

Students verify their eligibility during their sophomore or junior year by meeting the following criteria: • Take the PSAT/NMSQT (10th, 11th), PSAT 10 (10th), and/or AP Exams (by the end of 10th). • Earn a cumulative GPA of B+ or higher (at least 3.3 or 87%-89%) by the time of submission. • Be one of the top 10% of test takers in their high school, among first-generation college students  in their state, and/or among rural and small-town students in their state, OR earn a 3+ on 2 or  more distinct AP Exams in the 8th, 9^th, and/or 10th grade. 

The recognition serves as a signal for colleges eager to recruit awardees and as an opportunity for communities to celebrate students as they start a new school year. Thousands of nonprofit colleges and scholarship organizations using the College Board Student Search ServiceTM can connect with awardees during the recruitment process to share more about their postsecondary programs. 

“We are deeply committed to clearing a path for each and every student to take ownership of their future. We are excited that this program recognizes achievements of students across the country,” said Amy Reitz, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. “With the highest participation in the program’s history this year, we are proud to support these students on their future paths.” 

About Merrillville Community School Corporation School District

Merrillville Community School Corporation is a public-school district located in MERRILLVILLE, IN. It has 6,088 students in grades PK, K-12. Merrillville Community School Corporation provides high-quality learning experiences that prepare students to be productive citizens in a global society. MCSC is committed to promoting equity, literacy, creativity, and critical thinking as essential components of the rigorous education provided to its students.