32,000 Students Earn Academic Honors from College Board National Recognition Programs

More than 32,000 students across the country have been awarded academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. The African American, Hispanic American, Indigenous, and Rural/Small Town National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country.

This is the second year of the National Recognition Programs. Last year, Angel Velasquez was honored through the African American Recognition Program. He was connected to the Recognition Programs when he took the PSAT/NMSQT^®, applied, and then learned he earned the award right before his senior year of high school. He credits the Recognition Program honor as being a key part of his college application.

“The Recognition Program honors are very helpful as an extra point to add to your college application and a way to show your identity,” Angel said. Angel has just begun his freshman year at the University of Connecticut, where he plans to major in computer science.

Students may be eligible for the National Recognition Programs if they have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT™ 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP^® Exams—and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town. Once they earn the recognition, they can include it in their college and scholarship applications. Additionally, colleges and scholarship programs can connect with students who receive National Recognition Programs and who choose to participate in the College Board Student Search Service^®.

“With the College Board National Recognition Programs, our aim is to create pathways to college for underrepresented students and students in isolated areas,” said Steve Bumbaugh, College Board senior vice president, College and Career Access. “We hope this inspires many more students to work toward this recognition, and we look forward to inviting them to apply to these programs in the future.”

Research shows that National Hispanic Recognition Program recipients are more likely to enroll at a four-year institution. National Hispanic Recognition Program eligibility also increases attendance at out-of-state colleges and at public flagship institutions.