Superintendent’s Spotlight: Collin Freet, Abigail Kadus, Beren Munkatchy & Angelina Nguyen
This week’s spotlight is on four Warwick Valley High School seniors whose educational achievements won them one of the highest academic honors in the U.S. Join us in congratulating Class of 2025 members Collin Freet, Abigail Kadus, Beren Munkatchy and Angelina Nguyen for being named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. WVHS Principal Georgianna Diopoulos made the announcement on Tuesday, October 8, and presented the students with their Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
Each year, Commended Students across the country are recognized for their exceptional academic promise. The honor places Collin, Abigail, Beren and Angelina among the top 50,000 students nationwide who entered the 2025 competition by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Commended Students demonstrate outstanding potential for academic success, and represent a valuable national resource. NMSC recognizes their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, as vital to the advancement of educational excellence in the United States.
“Collin, Abigail, Beren and Angelina received this honor because they’re academic rock stars,” said a proud Principal Diopoulos. “They are dedicated, inquisitive students, which is an important trait that, I know, will translate into them becoming lifelong learners. I hope that they are as proud of themselves as we are of them. This is a hard-earned and well-deserved recognition for not only four outstanding students, but four fantastic individuals.”
Angelina shared that she was definitely proud of being recognized as one of the top 50,000 in a pool of nearly 1.5 million eligible students. She appreciates the weight that this NMSC accolade adds to her college applications, as she has her sights set on further post-high school education that will lead to a career in the pharmacy field.
“I want to go into pharmacology,” she said. “Some schools offer programs to get a PharmD in six years, rather than eight, which means I’d be able to enter the industry early and have more time to hopefully make an impact in the field.”
Collin intends to further his education after graduation, studying either engineering or physics in college. He said that it’s a big honor to receive this commendation, which he looks at it as a testament to the personal hard work and prioritization of education that he takes so much pride in.
“I’ve always held education in high regard, and truly value the learning process,” said Collin. “As such, I try to maintain a strong work ethic and positive attitude in each one of my classes. I believe that this Commendation is a result of both my work ethic, and the amazing teachers I have had over the past few years here at Warwick High School.”
Beren, another science-minded senior, plans to study biology after high school. And while Beren shares his fellow honorees’ pride and gratitude for receiving the NMSC honor, he also “hopes that everyone who reads this article knows that whether or not their academics have been recognized, they are worthy of education, no matter what a college admissions officer might tell them.”
Finally, Abigail is also very proud to have received this recognition for all of the hard work she put into preparing for the PSAT and the resulting outcome.
“It is a product of my hard work throughout high school, and I’m looking forward to using this as motivation to achieve in college and beyond,” Abigail said. “As for my future plans, I am committed to play lacrosse at Rowan University. I hope to enroll in their honors college, and I plan to study medicine there.”
Congratulations, everyone!
Warwick Valley High School students commended by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, from left to right: Collin Freet, Abigail Kadus, Beren Munkatchy, and Angelina Nguyen