WACO, TX- Waco ISD is proud to announce that Tripp Wendel, a Waco High senior, has been named a National Merit Commended Scholar for the National Merit Scholarship Program based on his outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in 2021.

Wendell was recognized in 2022 as a gold superintendent scholar. He likes to write fiction in his spare time and would like to pursue civil engineering. He is an avid animal lover and enjoys drawing, reading, tabletop and computer games. He wants to attend Baylor University.

“Tripp is an extraordinary student and young man. Not only is he unprecedented in his academic accomplishments but he is also one of the most unique and memorable students I have had the pleasure of teaching,” said GT Enrichment Specialist Amanda Coatney. “His tenacity for reading and passion for learning has been impressive his entire school career.”

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a national academic competition for high school students to provide financial aid to attend college. It is administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Students qualify for the National Merit program by achieving a high score on the PSAT. The test is more formally called the PSAT/NMSQT, which stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Wendell is among approximately 34,000 Commended students from across the nation who are being recognized as part of the National Merit program. Commended Students are those who placed among the top five percent of 1.5 million students who entered the 2023 Merit Program by taking the 2021 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship qualifying test.