Salem High School Announces Senior Academic Awards

SALEM (Mar. 24, 2026) – Salem High School is proud to announce the outstanding academic achievements of the Class of 2026. This year, a significant number of students have earned a variety of prestigious academic awards and honors, showcasing their dedication, talent, and hard work throughout their high school careers.

“The accomplishments of our students reflect a group of young people who have fully embraced both the rigor and the opportunities available at Salem High School,” said Principal Glenn Burns. “From national recognition through the PSAT, to outstanding performance in Advanced Placement coursework, and the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, our students continue to demonstrate that what is happening in our classrooms is both meaningful and impactful. Salem High students have not only achieved at a high level academically, but they have also set a standard for what is possible when students are supported, challenged, and inspired to excel.”

National Merit Commended Students

Of the 1.3 million eligible students who complete the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) nationally, approximately 34,000 of the highest-scoring students receive recognition for exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the qualifying test.

Four students from the Class of 2026 received National Merit Commended Student honors:

Joel Mulsman, Gavin Ryan, Annalise Thornett, William Towne

School Recognition Awards

The College Board School Recognition Award celebrates students who have demonstrated academic excellence within their school community. To qualify, a student must score among the top 10% of their high school’s test takers on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 and/or earn a 3+ on 2 or more distinct AP exams by 10th grade.

Fourteen students from the Class of 2026 earned the School Recognition Award:

Kira Bester, Lucas Fox, Tessa Laufman, Eden McClain, Joel Mulsman, Gemma Murphy, Raymond Nguyen, Gina Nunez Roman, Gavin Ryan, Mia Silva, Annalise Thornett, William Towne, Brooks Workman, Rylan Workman

AP Scholar Awards

Thirty-one students from the Class of 2026 earned College Board AP Scholar Awards which include AP Scholar with Distinction, AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar:

AP Scholar with Distinction

Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Kira Bester, Alexia Coleman, Lucas Fox, Eden McClain, Mia Silva, Annalise Thornett, William Towne, Brooks Workman, Rylan Workman

AP Scholar with Honor

Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

Shea Christel, Elizabeth Mahady, Emily Mercier, Sam Mulligan, Joel Mulsman, Gemma Murphy, Raymond Nguyen, Nancy Reed, Gavin Ryan, Wyn Stevick

AP Scholar Awards

Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

Mariam Aleksanyan, Clarice Catbagan, Camryn Franklin, Anson Froeschl, Kai Gillis, Guywintz Jules, Lucas Lopez, Olivia Loux, Donald Masella, Makoma Moreno, Lily Navins, Elizabeth O’Connell

John and Abigail Adams Scholarship

The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship is a merit-based program that provides college tuition credits for up to eight semesters of undergraduate studies at a Massachusetts state college or university. Students qualify based on their grade-10 MCAS performance, needing to score Advanced on one exam and Proficient or Advanced on the other, and rank within the top 25% of MCAS scores in their district.

Sixty-one students from the Class of 2026 are eligible for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship:

Mariam Aleksanyan, Daniel Alley, Aaron Babb, Casey Benson, Kira Bester, Connor Buckley, Clarice Catbagan, Tenley Cederholm, Shea Christel, Em Clark, Alexia Coleman, Javion Cruz, Elizabeth Diaz, Brynn Doyle, Tanajah Encarnacion Cespedes, Madeleine Finamore, Lucas Fox, Camryn Franklin, Anson Froeschl, Kai Gillis, Hadassah Hunt, August Hunter, Guywintz Jules, Aaron Kerins, Nathaniel Lane, Alyssa Lebrun, Lucas Lopez, Gianna Lougee, Olivia Loux, Elizabeth Mahady, Carly Mannino, Donald Masella, Mallory McCarthy, Eden McClain, Emily Mercier, Makoma Moreno, Sam Mulligan, Joel Mulsman, Gemma Murphy, Lily Navins, Raymond Nguyen, Anthony Nolasco, Elizabeth O’Connell, Isabella Ortiz Cruz, Jamiel Pepen, Johan Polanco, Carlos Polanco Ramirez, Mason Potorski, Nancy Reed, Gavin Ryan, Mia Silva, Wyn Stevick, Sindi Sula, Carl Sverker, Karly Swiniarski, Darren Taku, Annalise Thornett, William Towne, Theodore Winsor, Brooks Workman, Rylan Workman

About Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts, a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens through which we view our work. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff unconditionally serves each of our 4,000 students across 11 schools regardless of ability or language.