FWCD Scholars

Twenty-three juniors and seniors earned honors from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and the College Board during the 2022-23 Fall Semester.

National Merit Semifinalists

Seniors Christopher Baker, Tommy Weaver, Rob Batton, Eliana Garcia, Seth Mayhue and Alexis Rollings (pictured) were named National Merit Semifinalists. These outstanding students are among the more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 68th National Merit Scholarship Program. They are six of the 1,571 Semifinalists named in the state of Texas.

Seniors Christopher Baker, Tommy Weaver, Rob Batton, Eliana Garcia, Seth Mayhue and Alexis Rollings (pictured) were named National Merit Semifinalists. These outstanding students are among the more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 68th National Merit Scholarship Program. They are six of the 1,571 Semifinalists named in the state of Texas.

National Merit Commended Students

Seniors Matthew Lobo, Caroline Readinger, Luke Rollins and Gil Wroten were among the 34,000 students named National Merit Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2023 competition.

Seniors Matthew Lobo, Caroline Readinger, Luke Rollins and Gil Wroten were among the 34,000 students named National Merit Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2023 competition.

College Board National Recognition Program

Thirteen FWCD students earned 2022-23 academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. Rachel Nelson ’23 was awarded the National African American Recognition Award; Alexis Espino ’23, Andrea Andrade ’24, Brock Bethea ’23, Andy Booth ’24, Emma Hargrove ’23, Eti Lois ’23, Isa Rios ’23, Ricky Espino ’24, Tucker Grubbs ’24 and Zachary Willars ’24 were awarded the National Hispanic Recognition Award; and Claire Dodson ’24 and Jackson Grace ’23 were awarded the National Indigenous Recognition Award. These juniors and seniors are among the 62,000 students from across the country to earn this honor by having a GPA of 3.5 or higher; excelling on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 or earning a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

Photo Caption: (Front row) Isa Rios ’23, Andrea Andrade ’24, Rachel Nelson ’23, (second row) Emma Hargrove ’23, Claire Dodson ’24, Ricky Espino ’24, (third row) Alexis Espino ’23, Jackson Grace ’23 and Zachary Willars ’24. (Not pictured) Andy Booth ’24, Brock Bethea ’23, Eti Lois ’23 and Tucker Grubbs ’24

“I am very happy for the recognition these students have received for their academic accomplishments,” said Head of Upper School Peggy Wakeland. “Additionally, they contribute to our school in many areas: athletics, 4-H, visual and performing arts, service learning, and participation in international travel. These students represent themselves, their families and our school in remarkable ways.”

Head of School Eric Lombardi echoed Wakeland’s sentiments. “We are a school that believes in the importance of all three A’s, academics, arts and athletics. That said, the “A” for academics is the single most important; we like to say it is in a bigger font than the other two A’s,” Lombardi said. “Seeing the recognition for such impressive academic achievement of so many of our students, many of whom also show up on our stages and on our fields, makes us all proud.”