(BURBANK, IL) - St. Laurence is excited to announce that senior Noah Swerhun has been named a Commended Student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Swerhun, a graduate of Saint Jude and resident of Orland Park, is among about 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation who are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2023 competition by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“We are so proud of Noah for receiving this prestigious honor,” said St. Laurence Principal Kristine Kane. “From day one of freshman year, Noah has worked incredibly hard in the classroom and has achieved so much in his four years at St. Laurence. He is an exemplary student in our school community and is very deserving of the recognition.”

A letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, was presented by Principal Kane to Swerhun.

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