Senior Calvin Rueda was admitted in the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) as a 2013-2014 scholar.

The NHRP began in 1983 as a program to recognize outstanding Hispanic/Latino students. Students with a junior year GPA of 3.5 or higher are designated as Scholars, and those with a GPA of 3.0 to 3.49 were assigned as Honorable Mentions. Out of over 259,000 Hispanic students, Rueda received recognition as a Scholar.

“When I took my PSAT, I registered that I was part-Hispanic, and they sent my PSAT to the College Board,” Rueda said. “The NHRP is a national merit program commissioned by the College Board that recognizes those of Hispanic descent that have received certain high scores on the PSAT and other academic achievements.”

Rueda plans to go into political science after high school.

“I am really excited because it’s one of those things that really help when you have it on your college applications,” Rueda said. “I just got the results about two weeks ago.”

Rueda received a notification of a certificate in the mail. Then, Principal Tim Gilliland called him in and handed him the certificate.

 “A certain percent had to score really well (to attain this recognition),”Gilliland said. “It takes a really strong student to qualify for this honor.”

The certification doesn’t come with scholarship money. However, being a scholar can still benefit Rueda in college.

“A couple of the schools that I’m looking at will give you a scholarship (if a student is in NHRP),” Rueda said. “It’s a really prestigious thing to have.”