Talawanda High School student Dylan Bailey-Van Kuren has been named a Commended Student in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program.

In addition to his exceptional academic strengths, Bailey-Van Kuren is captain of the boys varsity soccer team and participates in Model United Nations, National Honor Society, Academic Challenge and many other activities.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their outstanding academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2013 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2013 competition by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“Recognition of academically talented students plays a fundamental role in the advancement of educational excellence within our nation,” a National Merit Scholarship Corporation spokesperson siad. “The young people recognized as Commended Students represent some of the best and brightest minds in the country as demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program. We sincerely hope this recognition will provide these students with additional educational outlets and motivate them in their pursuit of academic achievement.”

A reception will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 prior to the Talawanda School District School Board meeting at Talawanda High School to honor Bailey-Van Kuren’s academic accomplishments.