The principal, Daniel A. Noel, of South Effingham High School announced that Rebecca E. Callaway and Jeffery J. Hancock have been named Commended Students in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship program.

A letter of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation , which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors.

About 34,000 commended students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2009 competition for National Merit Scholarships, commended students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2009 competition by taking the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“Recognition of academically talented students and the key role played by schools in their development is essential to the pursuit of educational excellence in our nation,” said a spokesperson for NMSC. “The young people named commended students have demonstrated outstanding academic potential by their strong performance in this highly competitive program. We hope that this recognition will enhance their educational opportunities and that they will continue to diligently pursue their professional goals.”