Three Notre Dame Prep seniors have earned the rank of National Merit Finalist for 2023.

Eleanor Dee, Alejandra Heredia and Lars Nordhagen were informed Tuesday, Feb. 21 that they had received this prestigious academic recognition, according to a press release.

Out of the 1.5 million students who took the PSAT and did the work necessary to apply for the National Merit Scholarship program, only 15,000 earned the title of Finalist nationwide.

“We are so incredibly proud of these students,” Jill Platt, Notre Dame Prep president, said in the release. “They are not only hard-working students academically, but they also give back to school by sharing their talents in sports, music, student leadership and Christian service.”

Next year Dee will attend Colby College in Waterville, Maine; Heredia is headed to Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich.; Nordhagen is still undecided.

“I’m grateful to my teachers and counselor for encouraging me to apply for the National Merit Scholarship,” said Dee. “It was hard work, but so worth it!”