<p>It’s been very helpful to get these replies. My only experience has been with local schools where there are always less than a handful of NMF, if any, and it seems to be a big deal (think about the billboards described above…). I had no idea there were schools where a large percentage of the class might get this distinction. It doesn’t sound like there is any consistency regarding the recognition nationally. Some of the school administration did change this past year, so that may be why there was a difference. I really don’t want to get into the specific beliefs involved in this forum, but I do feel less concerned that this may have been done intentionally.</p>
<p>They are listed in our school newsletter, and on the school website. No additional recognition.</p>
<p>^^^ That is basically it at my D’s school plus the 2 free sandwiches. ;)</p>
<p>When my S was a commended student, his name was listed in the graduation program. They also had the kids meet with the principal. </p>
<p>I had one NMF and one commended kid - honestly they did well on a 45 minute test and had good grades (which the school had other mechanisms to recognize). I’m fine with a low key recognition, but it does bug me that athletes get huge rallies and acclaim and the scholars get tidbits.</p>
<p>Musicians get less than the scholars!</p>
<p>My S was commended. There were 3 commended and 2 semi finalists at his school. Their certificates were presented at Senior Awards night and their names were published in the Awards section of the Graduation Program.</p>
<p>Just went to the HS graduation last night. They do put the finalist and those received the NMSC scholarships on the program (so some appeared twice), but not semi or commended.</p>
<p>Threads like this always bring home that most posters on this site live in a different “world” than me and my kids. I don’ t mean that negatively, just that it’s a bit of culture shock at times. </p>
<p>My kids go to a public school where the graduation rate is only 82% and only 40% move on to a four year college. Their high school (it was mine, also) is the school where George Bush Sr stood and signed the “no child left behind” act, so that should tell you something. </p>
<p>Our school had our first <em>ever</em> national merit scholar last year. She was only the 6th finalist since 2000. Understandably, we make a big deal out of even semifinalists (two this year)! We like having something to brag about. Heck, we got so excited when we were named National School District of Character that we took out a billboard.</p>
<p>My school doesn’t make a big deal about this, which is annoying because I’m NMF and it’s basically my only award won ever… 
I’m one of two and the other NMF is also valedictorian, so my heart bleeds for her :).
I don’t think that my principal likes the whole NMF concept because she’s not a big standardized testing person and doesn’t like the whole idea of people being recognized as smart just because they have good standardized test skills. (I don’t think I should be punished for that, though…)
My principal basically gets up at a random school assembly over the course of the semester and gives out the certificates. Very low-key. At the end of year assembly, she also mentions the NMFs along with the senior year’s commended and the junior year’s commended. Then she’ll probably mention it in my description at graduation, if she remembers. Also it’ll probably be in a corner of the newsletter.
It sounds like a lot but it feels like a little- very half-hearted, especially as I’d been so proud of myself… oh well. </p>
<p>It does not matter how your school present the NMF (if at all), it will be on your resume and application and that is all it counts. Whether it is a high key or low key announcement, or even announced at all, it should not discourage you and you should be happy with your achievement.</p>
<p>Our school works to keep recognition of academic achievements at least comparable to athletic ones. Interestingly, since NMSF comes out in football season, these students are announced at a football game. A brief bio of each student is read over the loudspeakers and the parents and student walk down the field and are congratulated by the administration. The crowd typically really gets into it and cheers like mad - which is fun for the kids who are non-athletes and have never experienced anything like it (heck, it’s probably fun for the NMSF who are athletes too!).
The NMF are announced at the senior honors assembly, given a certificate and gave their names printed at top of commencement program.
The one thing our school does that is a bit weird, is that they then single out only the NM Scholars who get scholarships from NM for further recognition. They don’t seem to realize that the NMFs who receive corporate or school-sponsored NM Scholarships are also NM Scholars. </p>
<p>My D’s school does a lovely awards event for the Seniors. However, my D has received absolutely no recognition for a 36 ACT and a prestigious scholarship for summer study as a Junior. Kind of peeved.</p>
<p>I didn’t know SAT or ACT scores were ever recognized at awards ceremonies at schools. </p>
<p>Our district has 4 High Schools and published the names and photos of the 12 NMFs for the district in the local paper. S1’s HS had 5 of the 12 and the school recognized all commended, NMSF and NMF as part of a larger academic awards night a day or two before graduation. They were also pointed out in the graduation program.</p>
<p>The school has a lot of ‘bling’ on the graduation robes,but NMF is not one of those things.</p>