PSAT Perfection

Texas High students qualify for National Merit Scholarship

Story by Sage Stussy, Staff Writer

November 19, 2025

As students fill the school and head to class, a particular group of juniors make their way to testing rooms, their minds full of everything they’ve learned and crammed into their study session the night before. Among all the students determined to do well on the test, only three will emerge on top.

These students include none other than Sam Cross, David Mayo and Jackson Adams. Due to their excellent PSAT test scores, they received recognition as National Merit Scholars. Their outstanding scores provided them many opportunities for the future and taught them numerous studying strategies.

“The PSAT is a preliminary SAT produced by College Board and allows qualifying juniors to take that test in the fall [of their] junior year in October,” assistant principal Bettie Stark said. “These three students scored in the top three percent of the country, and so they were named committed scholars this year.”

These standardized tests can potentially provide a great way for these gifted students to expand their possibilities for their future schools and careers.

“I hope [the PSAT] will help my resume look a little better,” Adams said. “[It might even] allow me to take advantage of opportunities in the future.”

As well as improving future prospects, this test taught these students many test strategies when studying with their given resources from the school.

“[I used the] PSAT summer camp offered by the school [and] practice questions that I received from Mrs. Suelzer,” Cross said. “Studying well in advance, even 15 questions a day, two weeks before, can help improve your score.

The PSAT remains a great tool that can help numerous students get into great colleges and universities. With these amazing scores, these three students’ determination and hard work shine through.

“[The PSAT will] help you see your strengths or your weaknesses so you can focus and practice to get a good score to help you when you apply to college,” academic advisor Laura Fuller said. “It speaks to the river of our academic classes that prepares them well for these tests. I think it’s great that we have students that practice and strive to do their best academically and then they see these great results.”

About the Contributors

Sage Stussy, Staff Writer

Sage Stussy is a first-year staff writer for THS Publications. She is a sophomore with one ridiculously busy schedule. If she is not at school, she is either running a cross-country meet, kicking a soccer ball, handing out water at a football practice, running a ridiculous number of laps around a track or attending a student council meeting. Why on earth would she ever sign up for this amount of extracurriculars is unknown. Running only on V8s and a few hours of sleep, she is a part of the Texas High Cross Country, Track, Soccer and Sports Medicine team. She is one of the student representatives in the Student Council and a player on the Texarkana Soccer Club’s Showcase team. If by some miracle she has none of these activities, she is lying on the couch with her head buried in a book and her dog in her lap.

Michelle Lopez, Equipment Manager, Photographer

Senior Michelle Lopez is a third-year staff member of THS Publications. Lopez’s favorite subjects are both math and science. She is looking to major in the health field or a math content field. Grades are important to her, so she works hard to get good marks and always keeps up with her assignments. Michelle is the Vice President of NHS and is also a member of Rosebuds, Key Club, Quill & Scroll, Science Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and Book Club. Michelle dances at JMSD and participates in TCB’s Nutcracker Ballet. She loves to read, watch movies and shows, and enjoys rainy days (without thunder).

Grant Spicher, Photographer, Videographer

Grant Spicher is a third-year photographer and videographer for Tiger Times Online and THS Publications/Student Media. He hasn’t told anyone this, but whenever he is not at school, he is protecting the city from danger and crime. He is Spider-Man. Although his heroism is limited, he plans to focus on his career by attending Texas A&M University to study creative media and continue his journey in sports media.

Nadia Lopez, Assignments Editor, Photographer

Nadia Lopez is a senior and a third-year returning staff member for THS Publications. Apart from this, she is a member of Mu Alpha Theta, NHS, Quill & Scroll, Rosebuds, Key Club, Science Club, and Reading Club. Lopez loves hanging out with friends, watching shows, and taking pictures. As Assignments Editor this year, she hopes to productively lead the photography team and make a great year out of it.