The 2025 National Recognition Program awarded 12 high-performing Evergreen Park Community High School students to help them stand out to colleges

EVERGREEN PARK, IL – Evergreen Park Community High School is proud to celebrate the achievements of its students who earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program.

The program, available on BigFuture®, helps students stand out on college and scholarship applications. Every year, talented students claim an award based on their achievement on College Board assessments, including the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and AP® Exams. 

In 2025, the program offered three awards to students of all backgrounds and across schools nationwide: First-Generation Recognition Award, Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, and for the first time, the School Recognition Award, to honor top-performing students in every high school, including lesser-known schools. 

This year, 12 students at Evergreen Park Community High School were awarded. Eleven were awarded with the School Recognition Award and four with the First-Generation Recognition Award. 

Three students – Jade Alfano, Muhammad Malik-Gonzalez and Marielle Ribar – were recognized with both awards. Additional EPCHS students receiving the School Recognition Award were Adrian Buenrostro, Zion McCadd, Megan Klimowski, Emilio Gonzalez, Zachary Barnes, Patrick Moroney, Lauryn Sommerio and Fiona Buchanan. Also receiving the First-Generation Recognition Award is EPCHS student Rihanna Martinez. 

“We’re incredibly proud of our students for earning this national recognition,” said EPCHS Director of Curriculum Megan Schillo. “Their dedication and drive have led to incredible accomplishments, and this honor highlights just how bright their futures are.”

Students verify their eligibility during their sophomore or junior year by meeting the following criteria: 

• 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. 

• 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 recognition serves as a signal for colleges eager to recruit awardees and as an opportunity for communities to celebrate students as they start a new school year. Thousands of nonprofit colleges and scholarship organizations using the College Board Student Search Service™ can connect with awardees during the recruitment process to share more about their postsecondary programs. 

“We are deeply committed to clearing a path for each and every student to take ownership of their future. We are excited that this program recognizes achievements of students across the country,” said Amy Reitz, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. “With the highest participation in the program’s history this year, we are proud to support these students on their future paths.”