Students Nationally Recognized by College Board

The 2026 National Recognition Program awarded more than 300,000 high-achieving students with a national academic distinction to help them stand out to colleges and scholarship programs.

Leyden is proud to celebrate the following 60 seniors who earned academic honors through the College Board National Recognition Program:

East:

First-Generation Recognition Award :  Beatris Abuga, Jaycee Boehmer, Angelica Camacho, Sarah Cano, Avani Cardona, Diego Cervantes, Jose Diaz, Marlen Diaz, Julia Galazka, Camila Hernandez-Preciado, Aleksandra Kamuda, Zuanna Karyta, Olivier Kasprzyk, Natalie Kus, Oliver Mastela, Vincent Oliva, Alicja Smoter, Vanessa Strozak Aisha Torres, and Jaziel Vega.

School Recognition Award: Beatris Abuga, Jaycee Boehmer Angelica Camacho, Sarah Cano, Avani Cardona, Diego Cervantes, Helena Czyz, Jose Diaz, Marlen Diaz, Mateo Diaz, Julia Galazka, Julia Giannosa, Christina Innocente, Aleksandra Kamuda, Zuanna Karyta, Olivier Kasprzyk, Natalie Kus, Oliver Mastela, Vincent Oliva, Evelyn Olney, Emmanuel Pasumarthi, Elijah Scheidler, Gabriella Scheidler, Alicja Smoter, Vanessa Strozak, Aisha Torres, Dan Jackob Uy, Tristan Valdez, Jaziel Vega, Madelyn Vogelsberg, and Julia Zorniak

West:

First-Generation Recognition Award: Fatima Becerra Sanchez, Juan Carrillo, Luis Castellanos, Julian Cisneros, Alana Czajkowska, Isabella Duran, Nathalie Estrada, Josue Fajardo Rosa, Oliver Flores, Marco Garcia, Kayla Guzman, Angelo Iguban, Naomi Lopez, Emily Mancha Garcia, Olivia Nass, Joshua Penaloza, Daniel Perez, Rigo Ribota, Eric Ruelas, Lexi Salkeld, Adan Sanchez, and Nathan Santoyo.

School Recognition Award: Paola Ambeliz, Fatima Becerra Sanchez, Juan Carrillo, Luis Castellanos, Julian Cisneros, Alana Czajkowska, Patryk Drwal, Isabella Duran, Nathalie Estrada, Josue Fajardo Rosa, Oliver Flores, Kayla Guzman, Rances Guzman, Angela Iguban, Naomi Lopez, Emily Mancha Garcia, Natalia Mendez Gonzalez, Olivia Nass, Joshua Penaloza, Natalie Grace Pera, Daniel Perez, Rigo Ribota, Jenni Rodriguez, Eric Ruelas, Lexi Salkeld, Adan Sanchez, Nathan Santoyo, Prisha Vaidya, and Mateusz Wojtasik.

These students were among 300,000 recipients nationwide who earned at least one of the following honors from the College Board National Recognition Program: First-Generation Recognition Award, Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, and School Recognition Award. 

“Our students have been recognized for their dedication and academic excellence, and we’re incredibly proud of them. This honor reinforces their exceptional achievements in high school and will support them in their pursuit of a bright future,” said Superintendent Dr. Nick Polyak. 

To be eligible, 10th- and 11th-grade students must earn a cumulative GPA of B+ or higher and either score 3 or above on two or more AP Exams by the end of 10th grade. They also qualify if they’re one of the top 10% of test takers, in their high school, among first-generation college students in their state, and/or among rural and small-town students in their state.