MATTAPOISETT — A pair of Old Rochester Regional High School students were named “Commended Students” in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, Principal Michael Devoll announced Monday, Dec. 16.

Xavier Pateakos and Dillon Furtado were named two of the approximately 34,000 throughout the country “recognized for their exceptional academic promise,” a news release said.

A letter of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation will be presented to Pateakos and Furtado.

Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship awards competition by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, the release said.

The students “have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” a National Merit Scholarship Corporation spokesperson said, according to the 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,” the spokesperson said. “We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”