EASTON — Superintendent Lisha Cabral and Oliver Ames High School Principal Kelly Cavanaugh are pleased to share that three Oliver Ames seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Taylor McAndrew, Brian Wang and Sophie West are among 34,000 students to be so honored. Commended students are placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2024 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
McAndrew, Wang and West will receive letters of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, and from the District.
“Congratulations to Taylor, Brian and Sophie for this wonderful accomplishment,” said Principal Cavanaugh. “This honor shows that they can compete with the best students in the country, and that when they depart Oliver Ames their horizons are endless.”
Taylor McAndrew
McAndrew is captain of both the field hockey and lacrosse teams at OAHS. She is president of the Student Council and a member of several academic groups, including the Economics Club, the Kids for Make a Wish Club, the Spanish Club and DECA.
In addition to her extensive academic studies and athletic participation in school, she has ties with many outside athletics and academics, including volunteering as an SAT prep tutor for two years through nonprofit Schoolhouse, playing on a club lacrosse team, volunteering as a youth lacrosse coach and working as a coach for the Eastern Massachusetts Women’s Lacrosse Umpiring Association.
McAndrew held a summer internship a Human Services Management Corporation working with the accounting and finance departments. She has won several awards during her time at OAHS. After graduation, McAndrew plans to study finance.
Brian Wang
Wang is captain of OAHS Swim and Dive Team and captain of the Math Team. Wang is a member of a number of academic clubs, including the Science Team, the Debate Team, the Student Government Association and DECA.
Outside of Wang’s academic studies, he has volunteered as an SAT prep tutor for two years through nonprofit Schoolhouse, The Ames Free Public Library and DIYI Boston as a middle school student tutor. Wang is a member of the YMCA Hay Lightning swim team and is a part-time swim instructor employed at the YMCA.
Additionally, Wang participated in the Real World Design Challenge, designing a drone as the project co-leader. His team won the MA state championship and qualified for nationals. Wang has won many academic awards during his time at OAHS. After graduation, Wang plans to studymechanical engineering and economics.
Sophie West
West plays the saxophone in the OAHS marching band and jazz band. West is a member of the Environment Society and Envirothon club. She was also selected to participate in the Girl’s State, which is a week-long program for Massachusetts students to learn about government and the political process.
Outside of school, West spends her time volunteering at the Mansfield Food Pantry, and is also a member of Generation Ratify and the Purple Wing Project. West was awarded a gold medal from the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association.
She was also accepted into the Southeastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association of district music festivals. As a member of the association, she had the privilege of performing at the Hatch Shell in Boston in 2022.After graduation, West plans to study environmental science.
For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program click here.
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