MMI Students Honored by the National Recognition Program

Seven MMI students were honored with the School Recognition Award. Pictured from left to right: Morgan Beerbower ’26, Arushi Solgama ’26, Cassidy McDermott ’26, Head of School Mrs. Theresa Long, Joseph Mayernick ’26, Frederick Blaine ’26, Eliza Garcia ’27, and Sharan Parikh ’26. Eliza and Sharan also received the First-Generation Recognition Award.

Ten students from MMI have been acknowledged by The College Board’s National Recognition Program, which highlights high-performing, underrepresented students. This program accepts submissions from students across the country, and eligible students are announced each fall in the following categories: School Recognition Award, First-Generation Recognition Award, and Rural and Small Town Recognition Award.

Cedrah Abdulrahman ’26, Mehak Manzoor ’26, Sharan Parikh ’26, Gavyn Corchado ’27, and Eliza Garcia ‘27 received the First-Generation Award. Morgan Beerbower ’26, Frederick Blaine ’26, Joseph Mayernick ’26, Cassidy McDermott ’26, Sharan Parikh ’26, Arushi Solgama ’26, and Eliza Garcia ‘27 received the School Recognition Award.

Students can claim an award for up to three designations if they are in the 10th or 11th grade, demonstrate academic excellence, and have a permanent address in the United States, a U.S. territory or U.S. military base, or attend a DoDEA school. U.S. citizenship is not required. During the submission process, students eligible for the First-Generation Recognition Award will be asked to verify their parents’ highest level of education. Students eligible for the School Recognition or Rural and Small Town Recognition Awards need to verify their high school.

Students demonstrate academic excellence when they:

Take the PSAT/NMSQT (10th, 11th), PSAT 10 (10th), and/or AP Exams (by the end of 10th)
Earn a cumulative GPA of B+ or higher (at least 3.3 or 87-89%) by the time of submission.
Demonstrate academic achievement: Be one of the top 10% of test takers in their high school, among first-generation college students in their state, and/or among rural and small-town students in their state OR earn a 3+ on 2 or more distinct AP exams in the 8th, 9th and/or 10th grade.

The National First-Generation Recognition Program is one of five national recognition programs The College Board runs. Its other four programs are: the National African American Recognition Program, the National Hispanic Recognition Program, the National Indigenous Recognition Program, and the National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program.

Five MMI students were honored with the First-Generation Recognition Award. Pictured from left to right: Head of School Mrs. Theresa Long, Cedrah Abdulrahman ’26, Mehak Manzoor ’26, Sharan Parikh ’26, Eliza Garcia ’27, and Gavyn Corchado ’27.

MMI has a history of sending first-generation students to higher education facilities. The School’s founder, Eckley B. Coxe, started MMI after seeing the profound need to provide education to children who wouldn’t normally receive the opportunity.

“We are extremely proud of our students who earned recognition through the College Board’s National Recognition Program. This honor not only reflects their academic excellence, but also the way they embrace the opportunities and challenges of an MMI education. Our students are motivated to excel, supported by dedicated faculty, and encouraged to think boldly about their futures. Achievements like this show the strength of an MMI education, where students build the skills, confidence, and preparation that lead to success in college and beyond,” said Theresa Long, Head of School.

More information about MMI’s history can be found on our website at https://www.mmiprep.org/about/history/.