(From Van Buren High School)

Mr. Kevin Shoup, principal of Van Buren High School, announced today that David Cavera has been named a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Mr. Shoup presented a Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) to this scholastically talented senior.

Cavera is one of about 34,000 commended students throughout the nation being recognized for exceptional academic promise. Although he will not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Cavera placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“Those being named commended students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented 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.”

Cavera joins 2025 graduate Nigel Woodall as a National Merit Commended Student. 2017 graduate Justen Stall and 2018 graduate Autumn Pisarsky previously represented VBHS as National Merit Finalists.