Academy Student Named to 2026 National Merit® Scholarship Program

Albany Academy is proud to announce that Rafi Magdon-Ismail ’26 has been named a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®). A Letter of Commendation from Albany Academy and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), which conducts the program, was presented to Rafi during Upper School Chapel on September 18 in recognition of his outstanding academic achievement.

Across the nation, about 34,000 Commended Students are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. While these students will not continue in the 2026 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, they placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the competition by taking the 2024 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.”

Albany Academy congratulates Rafi on this prestigious recognition and celebrates his dedication, talent, and commitment to excellence.