ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – Ector County ISD announced a record number of students who earned national recognition through the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Program during the monthly board meeting on Tuesday. 50 students were recognized, with at least two students from each of ECISD’s six high schools.

ECISD says more than 1.3 million juniors across about 21,000 high schools entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, last fall.

Anika Gundlapalli, an Odessa High School student, earned distinction as a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist. Gundlapalli is 1 of about 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide, making her among the top one percent of U.S. high school seniors. Now, she has the opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,000 National Merit Scholarships, worth nearly $28 million, which will be offered next spring.

Additionally, three students earned the National Commended Scholar status, ranking them among the top 2.5% of the 1.3 million juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT last fall. Andrea Santiago Soto from Odessa Collegiate Academy, Sapna Yadalla from Permian High School, and Forrest Harlow from the STEM Academy.

The school district says although these students will not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some may be candidates for Special Scholarships offered by corporate sponsors. These students did receive Letters of Commendation.

“Congratulations to these talented, hard-working students,” said ECISD Superintendent Dr. Scott Muri. “This level of achievement comes from focused effort to excel, and these recognitions are well-deserved. It is also the result of the exceptional work happening in our classrooms PreK through 12th grade. Congratulations, also, to the members of Team ECISD who have supported and challenged these students along their journey.”

Here’s a list of the other ECISD students who earned national recognition:

STEM Academy

  • Abigail Paredes: National Hispanic Recognition

OCTECHS

  • Anevaeh Barraza: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Kevin Camacho: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Lexxus Rodriguez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Marco Garay National: Hispanic Recognition
  • Sefenuoluwa Omotoye: National African American Recognition

Odessa High School

  • Cecilia Tavarez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Christian Lujan: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Elvis Delgado National Hispanic Recognition
  • Ethan Calderon National Hispanic Recognition
  • Izabella Hernandez National Hispanic Recognition
  • Josephine Saucedo National Hispanic Recognition

Permian High School

  • Aidan Gomez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Callan Warren: National Indigenous Recognition
  • Desiree Lopez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Etneciy Soto: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Gilberto Ramirez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Mario Gonzalez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Martinlee Longoria: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Morgan Hinojos: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Nathan Reyes: National Hispanic Recognition

New Tech Odessa

  • Adrian Rodriguez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Amya Garza: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Avery Smith: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Genesis Carbajal: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Joel Ramos: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Julio Pena: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Luis Acosta: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Madeline Guebara: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Norma Nino: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Rohan Reed: National African American Recognition
  • Sophia Robles: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Yarhey Gonzalez: National Hispanic Recognition

Odessa Collegiate Academy

  • Alivia Melgoza: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Alpheaus Cann: National African American Recognition
  • Amarys Aranda: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Anthony Villaloboz: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Ash Quinones: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Cesar Vazquez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Darianna Pando: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Emily Ortiz: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Gabriel Enriquez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Geneva Cansler: National African American Recognition
  • Giselle Rodriguez: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Jordan Venegas: National Hispanic Recognition
  • Marcuez Ferrill: National Hispanic Recognition, National African American Recognition