Bruno Basile and Vincent Maffetone from West Islip High School have been named Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.
The National Merit Scholarship Program honors exceptional academic talent nationwide. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.3 million students who entered the 2026 competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

West Islip High School Principal Andrew O’Farrell said, “These students have demonstrated outstanding scholastic ability and strong potential for continued academic success. This honor is a testament to their commitment to learning and achievement.”
Commended Students are recognized for their exceptional academic promise and represent some of the nation’s most capable high school students. While they will not continue in the 2026 competition for National Merit Scholarships, their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT places them among the top students in the country.