Maui Students Receive Commendation from 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program

Two Kamehameha Schools Maui seniors have earned the distinction of Commended Students in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Sean Sakamoto and Jayden Pahukula from KSM’s class of 2022 are among 34,000 scholars nationwide to be recognized by the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Corp. with a “Letter of Commendation” for their academic success.

“We are proud of the achievements of these two academically talented haumāna,” said Po‘o Māhele Luna (Upper Division Head) Brian Salzer. “Both Sean and Jayden were recently honored by the College Board for their assessments and schoolwork, as well. Recognitions like these help our students stand out from among the many college and university applicants.”

The Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2022 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” said a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”