Meet Our National Merit® Semifinalists & Commended Students

Congratulations to Mason Crowley '26 and Milena Mataac '26, who have been named Semifinalists in the prestigious 2026 National Merit® Scholarship Program competition, and to Michelle Cuevas Tineo '26, Alyssa Furtado '26, and Amelia Phillips '26, who have been recognized as Commended Students. They are exceptional leaders inside and outside the classroom!

“The entire Central Catholic community is beyond proud of the academic success of these talented students,” said Principal Mr. Andrew Murray. “We are confident that they will all move on to amazing accomplishments and make the CCHS legacy even stronger.”

National Merit® Semifinalists

• Mason Crowley '26
• Milena Mataac '26

They are among approximately 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide, representing less than one percent of US high school seniors, from the over 1.3 million students who entered the 2026 National Merit® Scholarship Program. They will now continue in the competition for approximately 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million which will be awarded in Spring 2026.

About the National Merit® Scholarship Program

Commended Students

• Michelle Cuevas Tineo '26
• Alyssa Furtado '26
• Amelia Phillips '26

They are among 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.

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Meet our National Merit® Semifinalists

 

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Mason Crowley '26

About Mason

• National Merit® Semifinalist
• Hometown: Lowell
• Middle School: Immaculate Conception School (Lowell, MA)

Activities

• Track & Field
• National Honor Society
• Student Alumni Association
• Student Ambassadors

Why is CCHS Special?

"Definitely the sense of community. Everyone makes such a sincere effort to welcome and understand each other, and it makes a huge difference."

Committed to Service

“My favorite service event is the SAA Christmas event because it’s a great opportunity for us as students to get together and celebrate the holidays while giving to those in need. I have also helped with the TeamWalk for Cancer Care in Lowell, the Haverhill golf tournament, the Special Field Games, and mentoring at Saint Mary's Church."

Faculty Role Models

"I have a lot of teachers that I’d like to thank, but I’d especially like to mention Coach Grella (Mr. Sully Grella '92, Math Faculty), who has consistently encouraged me to push myself to do the best work that I can in football and track; Mr. Griffin (Mr. Brian Griffin, Science Faculty) who makes even the worst of physics easy to understand; Mr. Boucher (Mr. Eric Boucher '04, Math Faculty), who makes sure that our class takes away more than calculus from his lessons; and Mr. Hebert (Mr. Cameron Hebert '17, Math Faculty), who has been a great example to me of how to get involved at Central and make the most of my time here."

Raider Legacy

• Sister: Makayla Crowley '29
• Cousins: Elena Zorbas '27 and Luke Zorbas '27

Congratulations, Mason!

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Milena Mataac '26

About Milena

• National Merit® Semifinalist
• Hometown: Newbury
• Middle School: Immaculate Conception School (Newburyport, MA)

Activities

• Tennis
• National Honor Society, Vice President
• Raider Review Newspaper, Managing Editor
• Concert Band
• Liturgical Band & Chorus
• Student Ambassadors, E-Board
• Student Alumni Association, E-Board
• Visions Coffeehouse
• Camp Champagnat Leadership Institute, Student Leadership Team
• Art Club
• Piano Lessons
• Club Tennis

Why is CCHS Special?

"Central Catholic is a very special place, because it provides every student with an opportunity to pursue their own unique interests. There is always something new to try, and there are so many people here—teachers, faculty, and fellow students—who will never hesitate to give you their full support."

Committed to Service

"Over the past years, I have enjoyed participating in Marist Mentors, where I had the opportunity to work with children in physical and academic need from the community surrounding CCHS; altar serving at my local parish—Immaculate Conception Parish (Newburyport MA); and participating in Student Alumni Association events, including the Christmas Gift Wrapping Event and the Easter Egg Hunt, both of which benefited the least favored."

"I also volunteered this summer at the Museum of Old Newbury (Newburyport) and the Custom House Maritime Museum (Newburyport), working to preserve historical records and promote historical interest in my hometown."

Faculty Role Models

"I would like to thank Mr. Hebert (Mr. Cameron Hebert '17, Math Faculty), who has been a role model and source of support both in class and in extracurriculars; Mr. Denmead (Mr. Bruce Denmead, Music Teacher & Band Director), who introduced me to a world of music I never knew existed; Mr. Griffin (Mr. Brian Griffin, Science Faculty), who has greatly helped me develop an understand of and love for physics; and so many other teachers who have supported me and inspired in me a love for learning throughout my time at Central."

Raider Legacy

• Sister: Maria Mataac '21

Congratulations, Milena!

 

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Meet Our Commended Students...

• Michelle Cuevas Tineo '26
• Alyssa Furtado '26
• Amelia Phillips '26

 

Michelle Cuevas Tineo '26

• National Merit® Commended Student
• Hometown: Lawrence
• Middle School: Lawrence Family Development Charter School (Lawrence, MA)

Activities

• Love For Lazarus
• Band
• DECA
• Mock Trial
• Model UN
• Passport Club
• Theatre Guild
• Visions
• Flute Quartet
• National Honor Society
• Student Ambassadors
• Campus Ministry
• Outside CCHS
  • Tutor at Lawrence Family Development Charter School
  • Canobie Lake Park Cook
  • Thrive Scholars

Why is CCHS Special?

"The community. Central gets together for football games, liturgies, and pep rallies, and we also unite for food drives, the Christmas Project, and volunteering."

Committed to Service

"I love being able to make a difference, even if it’s small. I started Love For Lazarus for that reason, because I wanted to unite everyone to volunteer together and make a difference together."

"Helping serve food at Lazarus House or helping at the Thrift Store are really how I spend a lot of my summer, and I love greeting guests, especially since a lot of them speak Spanish."

"I also tutor at my old middle school where I play dodgeball with kids and help them with their homework, it feels really fulfilling when kids say that they enjoy your visits and ask when you’re coming back."

Faculty Role Models

• Mr. Denmead (Mr. Bruce Denmead, Music Teacher & Band Director) helped me learn how to play the flute in freshman year and is very dedicated to the band program;
• Mr. Sansoucie (Mr. Matthew Sansoucie '06, Math, Business, & Technology Faculty) as both the DECA teacher and my teacher in Macroeconomics and Entrepreneurship, has really helped me develop my passion for economics and business;
• Ms. Labrie [Mrs. Jessica (Dick '09) Labrie '09, English Faculty] helped me develop my research project and we organized tickets together for Theatre Guild;
• Mr. Griffin (Mr. Brian Griffin, Science Faculty) has helped me with Physics questions when I visit after school, he is always available for extra help;
• Mr. Benson (Mr. William Benson '11, Social Studies Faculty) has helped me enjoy history and is a source of support at school;
• Ms. Thompson [Mrs. Christine (Leonard '06) Thompson English Faculty) helped me improve my writing skills in AP Seminar and was very supportive.

The Future

"I want to study Economics so I can understand our economic systems and help address the issues that perpetuate poverty."

 

Alyssa Furtado '26

• National Merit® Commended Student
• Hometown: Haverhill
• Middle School: Saint Michael School (North Andover, MA)

CCHS Activities

• Soccer
• Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field
• Peer Leaders
• Student Ambassadors
• DECA
• Campus Ministry
• Outside CCHS:
  • Altar serving coordinator at All Saints Parish in Haverhill 

Why is CCHS Special?

"What makes Central Catholic special is its variety of opportunities and diversity of experiences that it provides for the students."

"We are able to create our own path that is different from anyone else's, and we have the ability as students to participate in numerous extracurriculars we feel passionate towards and to take whatever difficulty of classes we feel will help us succeed."

"Lastly, the faculty and staff are all interested in our wellbeing and are actively putting in time to help us, whether that be staying after school for extra help or being there as a coach or club leader to help us pursue our passions.

Committed to Service

"I like to help out at my church whenever I can and also to help with any events we have at Central. I am an active member of Campus Ministry and do what I can with that group."

Faculty Role Models

• Mr. Hart (Mr. Timothy Hart '85, Campus Minister)
• Mrs. Blaszak (Mrs. Vick Blaszak, Campus Minister)
• Mr. Dumas (Mr. Shawn Dumas, School & College Counselor, Track & Field Coach)
• Mr. Boucher (Mr. Eric Boucher '04, Math Faculty) and Mr. Griffin (Mr. Brian Griffin, Science Faculty) for having them two years in a row for class and also writing my recommendation letters;
• Ms. Hidalgo (Dr. Evelyn Hidalgo, School & College Counselor) for coming with us on the BLUE Missions Trip.

Raider Legacy

• Brother: Derek Furtado '24

 

Amelia Phillips '26

• National Merit® Commended Student
• Hometown: Windham, NH
• Middle School: Birches Academy (Salem, NH)

CCHS Activities

• Theatre Guild
• National Honor Society
• Student Ambassadors
• Student Alumni Association
• Student Walk Committee
• Love for Lazarus
• A/V Club
• Outside CCHS
  • "I play piano at home and take piano lessons."

Why is CCHS Special?

"I think that what makes Central Catholic so special is the community. Ever since I started going to school here, I have felt so welcomed and accepted by everyone I have ever met. The teachers are incredibly kind and genuinely want to see us succeed, and I have found so many incredible friends here as well."

Committed to Service

"I have loved getting to volunteer at Lazarus House, whether with Love for Lazarus, the Student Alumni Association, or on my own. Volunteering there has allowed me to meet so many incredible people while helping to give back to our community in Lawrence."

Faculty Role Models

"Every single teacher I've had at Central has helped me throughout my academic journey and made me who I am today. In particular, I would like to mention Mr. Hebert (Mr. Cameron Hebert '17, Math Faculty) and Mr. Boucher (Mr. Eric Boucher '04, Math Faculty), who have allowed me to learn to truly love math, as well as Mrs. Thompson [Mrs. Christine (Leonard '06) Thompson English Faculty) and Ms. LaBrie [Mrs. Jessica (Dick '09) Labrie '09, English Faculty], who helped me hone my research and writing skills through the AP Capstone program."

Raider Legacy

Brothers: Colin Phillips '24 and Liam Phillips '26

Congratulations, Michelle, Alyssa, and Amelia!

 

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About the National Merit® Scholarship Program

Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) have announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by about 300 business organizations, higher education institutions, and individual donors that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

The National Merit® Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The program does not measure the quality or effectiveness of education within a school, system, or state.

Steps in the 2026 Competition

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

National Merit Scholarships

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2026. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 830 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 150 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 150 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2026 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join approximately 389,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

About the 'Commended Students' Program

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2026 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2026 competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). The program is offered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation – a not-for-profit organization that recognizes academically talented high school students.