Troy High School seniors Lucy Remley, Mitchell Sargent and Chet Snyder have been named Commended Students by the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Corporation. 

 

All three students were named Commended Students based on their PSAT scores. Each posted scores among the highest 50,000 in the nation. Roughly 1.5 million juniors take the PSAT test every year, which puts the three students in the top 2-3 percent in the United States. 

 

“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” an NMSC spokesperson said in a press release. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

 

Here’s a closer look at Troy High School’s three Commended Students: 

 

Lucy Remley

Remley is known for making beautiful music with the Troy High School music department. 

 

Perhaps nothing sounded sweeter – or more surprising – to Remley than finding out she was a National Merit Commended Scholar.

 

“I’m just surprised that it was me, because there’s a lot of smart people in my grade,” Remley said.

 

Remley is a senior leader and lead marimba player in the Troy High School marching band and Troy Indoor Percussion. She’s also a member of the National Honor Society. 

 

She said she’s incredibly grateful for the experience she’s had so far at Troy High School, and has had the opportunity to work with a number of teachers who have greatly impacted her academic career.

 

“I’ve had a lot of great teachers, especially being in the honors classes,” Remley said. “A lot of teachers have had a really big impact on me, especially ones like Mr. Orsborne, Mrs. Lehmkuhl and Mrs. Davis.”

 

While Remley isn’t sure where she’ll be next fall, she knows she wants to attend college and what she wants to study.

 

“I think I want to go into environmental biology,” she said. “I’m not sure where, but I think I want to go out of state. I’ve been interested in environmental biology ever since I was 5 years old. I’ve been interested in the environment and life.” 

 

Mitchell Sargent

Sargent knew he was in the running for a National Merit Scholar award when his scores came back last spring, and was thrilled when he found out Friday he’d made the cut.

 

“I’m really excited. When my score came back, (guidance counselor) Mr. (Aaron) Gibbons told me I had a chance to get one of these awards, and I’m really excited I made the cut this year.”

 

Of course, Sargent is used to making cuts, both in the classroom and on the golf course. He’s been a first team All-Miami Valley League selection every year in high school, was MVL Boys Golf Athlete of the Year as a sophomore and recently won medalist honors at the MVL tournament. 

 

 He’s also a member of the National Honor Society and Interact Club, and last year won the Vesper Award, given out annually to Troy High School’s most outstanding male student.
 

He’s hoping his success in the classroom and on the golf course will help guide his future. After graduation, he hopes to play golf in college, where he said he’d like to pursue a finance degree or PGA management degree.

 

“Right now, I’m trying to go play golf somewhere, so I’m kind of exploring all the options, so I’m not sure yet,” he said. “I’m hoping to play Division I golf somewhere, but we’ll just have to see what’s in the future.”

 

Sargent said he’s grateful for all of the opportunities Troy High School has presented to him.

 

“There are some awesome teachers here who helped me out, and Mr. Gibbons and all of guidance is awesome,” he said. “I have to miss a lot of school sometimes for golf, and all of the teachers do a really good job of helping me catch up, and as long as I communicate with them, they communicate back with me. It’s a really awesome place to learn and get awards like this.”

 

Chet Snyder

With a list of clubs and activities as long as one of the many cross country training runs he’s gone on in his lifetime, Chet Snyder doesn’t have a lot of free time on his hands. 

 

That has never stopped him from excelling in the classroom, however. 

 

As a result of his hard work, Snyder scored high enough on the PSAT test to earn National Merit Commended Student honors.

 

“I’m really grateful for being presented with the Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program,” Snyder said.

 

The Troy High School senior participates in Cross country, track and field, Academic Quiz Team, orchestra, student government, chess club and National Honor Society. He’s also heavily involved in 4-H and is a member of the Miami County Junior Fair Board. 

 

Last year, he also won both the Bausch and Lomb Award, given to the outstanding science student in the junior class, and Rensselaer Medal, given to the top mathematics student in the junior class. 

 

He credits the teachers he’s had at Troy High School for keeping school engaging and interesting.

 

“I think the teachers at Troy High School have helped me by encouraging me to be engaged. They have helped make me curious and wanting to know more,” Snyder said. “It’s a lot easier for me to learn when I’m engaged and I like the class.”

 

While he’s not yet sure what the future holds for him, things certainly look bright for Snyder.

 

“I don’t know where I want to go yet or exactly what I want to major in, but I’m thinking either engineering or mathematics,”