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Morristown East High Student Benjamin Concha Martinez earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.

These programs celebrate students’ hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The academic honors for rural area, Black, Indigenous, and/or Latino students are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent.

Martinez received the National Hispanic Recognition Award due to his GPA of 4.45 and outstanding performance on the AP Exams.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our students and recognize them for the great work they’ve been doing. We’re proud of their strong academic performance in the classroom and on College Board assessments like the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and AP exams,” said East High Principal Joseph Ely. “There’s so much that makes our students unique, and receiving this honor reinforces this as an asset for their future.”

Eligible students are invited to apply on BigFuture during their sophomore or junior year and are awarded at the start of the next school year in time to share their achievements in high school as they plan for the future.

At the same time, colleges and organizations using College Board’s Student Search Service can connect directly with awardees during the recruitment process.

“It’s becoming increasingly hard for students to be ‘seen’ during the college recruitment process. We’re exceptionally proud of the National Recognition Programs for celebrating students who are at times overlooked but have shown their outstanding academic abilities,” said Tarlin Ray, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. “This is a benefit not only for students but also for colleges and universities committed to recruiting diverse and talented students.”

In wake of receiving the award, Martinez thanks his parents for their sacrifice to ensure his success in school.

“I want to say a big thank you to my parents and my family for sacrificing so much for me to be able to get opportunities such as this,” he said. “Thank you and I love you.”