Three Sacred Hearts Academy students have achieved national recognition for their high test scores.

Seniors Taryn Wong, Megan Backus and Ellie Ramirez earned top rankings in the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP), which is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships.

High school students are entered into the competition by completing the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Scholars are determined based on their PSAT scores.

Ramirez was named a “National Hispanic Scholar.” Her score placed her in the top 2.5 percent of all Hispanic and Latino test takers across the nation.

Backus obtained “Commended Student” status due to “her outstanding potential for academic success,” according to the scholarship committee. Backus placed in the top 5 percent of test takers nationwide.

Wong now holds the title of “Semifinalist;” she had one of the highest PSAT scores in Hawaii, representing less than one percent of all test takers in the state.

Wong said she was speechless upon hearing word of her achievement.

“I couldn’t believe that I had actually become a semifinalist,” Wong said. “It all felt surreal, and it still does. I had hoped to become a scholar but didn’t think it would actually happen.”

Wong must now fill out an online application and fulfill the NMSP requirements in order to qualify as a finalist.

Wong used Khan Academy Official SAT Practice to study for the test and believes that it can help fellow students get high scores on any nationalized exam.

“I would recommend that anyone who is studying for the NMSQT, or any other type of test, for that matter, to use Khan Academy,” Wong said.

Khan Academy assesses one’s skill level through a diagnostic test, then identifies and tests that person on the concepts that were missed.

College Counselor Randy Fong is extremely proud of the girls and their achievements.

“I’m very honored and privileged that we’ve had several students honored for their high scores on the PSAT and considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program,” he said. “It shows that we have good quality students in the senior class; they studied hard for these tests.”