3 Phoenix Academy Seniors Receive National Merit Commendations
Three Phoenix Academy seniors have been named commended students in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Anabelle Copeland, Robert Beasley, and Ryan Yang received letters of commendation, which were presented to them by Phoenix Academy Principal Heather McNees.
The trio is among approximately 34,000 students nationwide being recognized as commended students for their academic achievements. They were selected from a group of over 1.2 million applicants in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT, the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), commended students are among the top 50,000 high scorers who entered the 2027 competition. The commended students’ recognition not only reflects outstanding achievement but also academic potential.
Yang has spent his entire K-12 journey at Phoenix Academy and has grown to appreciate the strong relationships he has built with staff and fellow students.
“Throughout high school, I studied hard throughout the entire year, both during the regular school year and during seasonal breaks, to excel academically within each of my classes,” he said. “I hope to continue doing so in order to broaden my academic abilities and grit in college and in the future.”
Yang is planning on attending North Carolina State University after graduation to pursue a degree in engineering.
“This recognition will serve as proof of my academic skills and open more opportunities to more prestigious colleges around the U.S.”
Copeland said the commendation helps open doors for college admissions and scholarship opportunities as she prepares for the next chapter in her life.
“After graduation, I plan to go to college to major in biology and to go into medical research. I hope to work internationally to provide medical and health resources to those who have less access, and to do research in collaboration with international organizations to develop important medicines and systems.”
Copeland said her family moved to North Carolina from Canada, and she started attending Phoenix Academy her freshman year.
“I am dedicated to my educational journey through taking higher level courses and being diligent to do all my work and excel in everything I do, whether it's academic or not. This says that I will continue to succeed academically and in my future career. I have also invested in the school community through Student Council and spirit events.”
Beasley also started at Phoenix as a freshman, and said the school was quick to make him feel at home in both community and culture.
“Throughout high school, I strived to challenge myself academically by taking the hardest classes whenever I could despite how difficult they were,” he said. “I hope I can continue to challenge myself in the future when I enter college and eventually the workforce.”
Beasley said he hopes to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and believes this commendation will help make that dream a reality.
According to NMSC, these students represent a valuable national resource. Recognizing their accomplishments and their schools' critical role in their academic development is vital to advancing educational excellence in the U.S.
Since its founding, NMSC has recognized more than 3.6 million students and provided some 490,000 scholarships worth over $1.9 billion. The honors awarded by NMSC to exceptionally able students are viewed as definitive marks of excellence.
Congrats, Anabelle, Robert, and Ryan! Way to represent Phoenix with pride!
