Newark High School senior Lucas Herd has been named a Commended Student in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.

A letter of Commendation from the Newark High School and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) which conducts the program, was presented after school to Herd October 15th by NHS Principal Kelly A. Zielke as family members, teachers, administrators and other staff proudly watched in the NHS Large Group Instruction room.

Herd, whose GPA at NHS at the end of the 2023-24 school year was 99.37, is one of about 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2025 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students in the nation who entered the competition by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“We are here to celebrate Lucas Herd for achieving recognition as a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program,” Zielke said. “This is a really big deal and we wanted to give you this Letter of Commendation in the presence of your family, administrators, teachers and friends. You, Lucas, are among this gifted group of students from across our country. I want to congratulate you on this achievement and wish you all the best.”

After doing some checking recently, Zielke noted no one had any record of another NHS student achieving Commended Student status.

And what did some of the guests at the ceremony have to say about Herd’s achievement?

“We are so proud of Lucas and his achievement. This is a prestigious accomplishment, and I have no doubt that Lucas has a very bright future ahead,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Krista Lewis said after the recognition ceremony.

“Lucas is a very bright, conscientious student. We are so proud of him here at NHS and are so happy to celebrate this great accomplishment that very few students achieve. I wish Lucas the best of luck in his senior year and future endeavors! Congratulations,” said Caty Hugunine, Herd’s school counselor.

"Lucas is a leader on and off the soccer . eld and he strives to be the best version of himself.,” said NHS math teacher Michael Palmer, who also coaches Boys Varsity Soccer.

“Lucas is one of the most gifted AP Physics students that I have had the opportunity to teach. In addition to his talents, he is just fun to have in the physics room. His questions and insights are always pushing us to dig a little deeper,” said Aaron Harrington, NHS AP and Gemini Physics teacher and Science Department Leader.