Thirteen Livingston High School students were named to College Board’s National Recognition Program. This annual honor celebrates top-performing high school students who belong to communities historically underrepresented on college campuses. The recently announced 2023-24 awards recognized 25% more student recipients than last year and introduced a new award to the program.

This year’s introduction of the National First-Generation Recognition Program presented more than 35,000 students with the chance to be celebrated for what they know and can do. A first-generation student is defined as a student whose parent(s) didn’t complete a bachelor’s degree.

There are now five programs: National African American Recognition Program, National First-Generation Recognition Program, National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program, and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program.

LHS students recognized include Hasset Belachew (African American), Rebeca Boullosa (First Generation, Hispanic), Sheng Yi Chen (First Generation), Anne Ferrans (Hispanic), Aryanna Lennon (African American), Samay Malde (First Generation), Ednakayi Martin (African American), Jessica Oji (African American), Julia Ou (First Generation), Aston Roberts (African American), Carolina Vasquez (Hispanic), Amanda Saiegh (Hispanic), and Nathan Shin (First Generation). 

Students submit during 10th or 11th grade on BigFuture.org to confirm they meet these criteria:

• GPA of B+ or higher (at least 3.3 or 87-89%) at the time of submission
• Score in the top 10% of the state’s test takers for their award program on the PSAT/NMSQT® or PSAT 10™ or earn at least a 3 on 2+ AP® Exams by the end of 10th grade
• Identify as first generation, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, or Indigenous or Native and/or attend school in a rural area or small town

This academic achievement serves as a tangible signal to colleges looking for ways to strengthen their recruitment strategies. Thousands of nonprofit colleges and programs using College Board’s Student Search Service™ can intentionally recruit students who have been recognized by the National Recognition Programs.