Four Baldwin High School seniors have been recognized for their outstanding academic achievement in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, one of the nation’s most prestigious academic competitions.
Baldwin High senior Ethan Questelles was named a Semifinalist after achieving a perfect score on the PSAT and a 1560 on the SAT. Semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of high school seniors nationwide. Matthew James Caraan, Demir Kadioglu, and David Kreutz earned Commended Student recognition.
Baldwin High Principal Neil Testa praised the accomplishments of all four students, highlighting their academic dedication and commitment to excellence.
“Congratulations to Ethan Questelles on achieving a perfect score on the PSAT and being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program,” Testa said. “We are confident that this is just the beginning for Luna, who has always been an exceptional student with a very bright future. We couldn’t be prouder.”
“Congratulations to Matthew, Demir, and David on being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program as ‘Commended Students,’” she said. “We are confident that this accolade is merely one of many honors these exceptional students will receive this year, given their remarkable academic accomplishments and extracurricular involvement.”
Questelles said he was proud to see his hard work recognized on a national level and reflected on the dedication required to reach this achievement.
“I was very proud to hear that I attained such an honor,” he said. “It was gratifying to see such a high acknowledgment of my hard work.” He credited his success to a love of problem-solving and challenging coursework.
“I’ve always had a love of math and of exploring it, so even the more puzzling questions came naturally to me,” Questelles said. “Classes like AP World History and AP Seminar prepared me for quickly analyzing complex texts under pressure.”
He plans to continue pursuing rigorous courses and extracurricular activities while also praising the faculty who supported him.
“I’ve consistently selected the highest level of coursework available to me in all of the core subjects,” Questelles said. “The passionate teachers at Baldwin are just as important as the courses—their expertise and encouragement has allowed me to thrive even in the most rigorous classes.”
Kadioglu said receiving the honor motivated him to continue striving for excellence and reflected on the long-term effort it took to get there.
“It felt amazing to see the time and work I put into studying paying off,” he said. “It showed me how my efforts were being recognized at a national level.”
Caraan, speaking about his own recognition, described the award as both a personal achievement and a point of pride for his community.
“I take this award as a way to represent my family, my town, my people, but also my struggles in my academic career,” he said.
Kreutz, who serves as the student representative on the Baldwin Board of Education, said the honor came as a pleasant surprise and a confidence booster.
“Honestly, I had almost entirely forgotten I’d even taken the PSAT,” he said. “To be placed at the level of our country’s best students is astonishing.” He credited Baldwin teachers and rigorous courses such as AP Physics 1, AP Statistics, and AP Seminar for preparing him to succeed.
According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, students recognized through the program “demonstrate outstanding potential for academic success” and represent a valuable national resource. Established in 1955, the program honors top-performing students and awards scholarships through corporate sponsors, colleges, and the NMSC itself. Baldwin’s strong showing this year highlights the district’s commitment to academic excellence.
