Sherman School Principal Ann Morrison, right, reads a letter of commendation regarding senior Kayla Yokom at the board’s recent meeting. Photo by David Prenatt

SHERMAN — Members of the Sherman Central School Board were introduced recently to Sherman senior Kayla Yokom, a student who has been recognized nationally for academic achievement, at their most recent meeting.

Ann Morrison, school principal, told the board that Yocom received recognition by the College Board National Recognition Program for Rural and Small Town Scholars when she scored exceptionally high on her PSAT test last year. Morrison also told the board that when Yokom took her SATs this fall, she attained a perfect score of 800 in math and a score of 780 in reading and writing, for a total score of 1580.

Morrison further announced that Yocom has been named a Commended Student in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. Morrison presented Yokom with a Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program.

According to National Merit Scholarship Corporation, about 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2021 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 2021 competition by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

In a correspondence to the school from National Merit Scholarship Corporation, an official from NMSC said, “those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success.”

The official added that “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 this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

Board members enthusiastically applauded Yokom for her accomplishment.