Hononegah students recognized as Academic All-Stars at school board meeting

Top academic All Stars at Hononegah Community High School received well-earned recognition at the Sept. 17 Board of Education meeting.

National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists are Emma Caver and Derek Peterson. Both performed exceptionally well on the PSAT/NMSQT.

Over 1.3 million juniors and about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the same tests in 2024, which serves as the initial screen for all entrants.

HCHS Principal Chad Dougherty said, “The nationwide pool of semi-finalists representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.

"You two make up 50 percent of the entire Rockford metro region semi-finalists. There is only one from Boylan and another from Rockford Christian being recognized as semi-finalists."

Dougherty told the semi-finalists, “If you choose to pursue this scholarship opportunity, you will work in collaboration with counselors."

"To advance, both students must continue to share information about participation in school and community activities, demonstrate leadership abilities, write an essay, and confirm test performances on future tests, employment, and honors awarded and received."

"You also need to have an outstanding academic record and to be endorsed by your school. We endorse you."

"There are millions of dollars available in the form of scholarships. Many come in the form of $2,500 scholarships through the National Merit organization."

 "These two also have the opportunity to earn institution level scholarships as full rides from colleges and institutions as well as corporations.”

Dougherty had started by honoring the National Merit Scholarship Commended Students."

"About 34,000 commended students throughout the nation are recognized with exceptional academic promise this year."

"Although they will not continue in the 2026 competition for the National Merit Scholarship Awards, Commended students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2026 competition by taking the 2024 preliminary SAT National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test, or the PSAT and the MSQT.”

Dougherty added, “According to the National Merit Corporation, those being recognized as Commended students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success."

"These students represent a valuable national resource and a regional community resource for us, recognizing their accomplishment as well as a key role that the schools play in their academic development."

"We have done our best, hopefully you have been appreciative of the efforts that our teachers have given you. It 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 in pursuit of academic success.”

“This is all about your performance on the PSAT. You did an amazing job, but I always want to emphasize to students that this isn't just about your performance on one test."

"This is the fact that you have been taking advantage of opportunities presented to you in classrooms since you were in elementary school," Dougherty said. "You have been pushing yourself and have been achieving at levels that very few can possibly imagine reaching. It is all because of your hard work, so I want to say thank you, you have been wonderful examples to your classmates and leaders here in the building,”

Certificates of Commendation were presented to National Merit Scholarship Awards Commended Students: Andrew Chambers, Tessa Doud, Anushree Karunamurthy Premanand, Peter Nelson, Spencer Paterson, Landon Samuelson and Ian Schmidt.

In addition to district certificates each student will also receive an award during Honors Night at HCHS in the spring.

Andrew Chambers, Brooklyn Davis, Anushree Karunamurthy Premanand, and Peter Nelson were recognized for achieving perfect scores on the ACT test.

Dougherty explained, “Last year the state transitioned after six years of SAT. We took our first ACT as our state-mandated test last year. We were kind of surprised, but then, when you think of the four students we are acknowledging, not so much so.”

Dougherty added, “Less than a quarter of a percent of testers who take the ACT achieve a 36, which is a perfect score. You put yourself in a category that is amazing and superior."

"This is about the hard work you put in to create the opportunities to now leverage yourself to an amazing place. It seems like the doors are open to you wherever you would like to go."

Dougherty said he thinks that colleges and universities will be competing for all the student recognized that evening.

"We are very proud of you all and are excited for your futures.”

Dougherty concluded by asking students to keep the school posted on their success after they graduate.

Teacher Jenny Simpson of the HCHS Math Department introduced a new AP Precalculus course, formerly called Honors Precalculus.

The 104 kids who are enrolled will take the AP test in May in hopes of earning college credit.

“To get us ready for it, math teacher Dan Bohn and I took the training.”

The current juniors in this class will take AP calculus or AP Statistics next year.

The BOE also approved the purchase of Chromebook devices and licenses from Dell, building improvements, and several items needed for day-to-day operations.

The school board voted to approve Board of Education President, Dave Kurlinkus, to serve as a delegate at the 2025 Joint Annual Conference.