Troy High School seniors Alex Rammel and Jeffrey Smith have been named Commended Students by the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Both students were named Commended Students based on their PSAT scores. Each posted scores among the highest 50,000 in the nation. Roughly 1.5 million juniors take the PSAT test every year, which puts Rammel and Smith in the top 2-3 percent. 

Both were surprised by Troy High School counselors and administrators Friday morning. Smith was particularly surprised, as he figured his score wasn’t high enough to make him a National Merit Semifinalist, and didn’t know the Commended Student award was a possibility.

“I didn’t expect to get this, honestly. I finished in the 98th percentile, which was typically just short of getting the scholarships,” he said. “I didn’t even know this existed. It feels good to be acknowledged for that score.”

Rammel is in the Troy march band and Troy Indoor Percussion. She also is President of Math Club and a member of Quiz Team, American Sign Language Club, Drama Club,  this year’s fall play, Culture Club and ASTRA. 

Smith is a member of the Troy High School golf team. 

Both plan on attending college next year and have lofty goals and aspirations following college.

“I am looking at going to college. I’m not sure where yet, but OSU (Ohio State University) is the top contender right now, and I’m looking to study biochemistry or chemistry, something along those lines,” Rammel said. “The ultimate goal there is to end up doing medical research.”

Smith said he hopes to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and eventually attend law school after completing his undergraduate degree. He’s already started job shadowing local attorneys.

“I’m applying to Georgetown, and I hope to major in political science there,” he said. “I’ve always had an interest in law, particularly. I’ve shadowed a few lawyers here and there, and it’s always been my interest.”

Both also were quick to credit the staff members at Troy High School for helping them advance their academic careers.

“It’s been great,” Smith said. “The teachers in Troy are amazing. I’ve had at least one every year that I can really just think about and appreciate them and what they’ve done for me not even as a student, but just as a person.”

Rammel agreed.

“Being at Troy, there’s just so many opportunities here, all of the classes that are open for me to take,” she said. “My parents are always talking to me about how when they were in high school, AP classes, college credit classes … none of that would have been even remotely possible. I have friends who have graduated from Troy with associate’s degrees. I myself have a firm foundation in chemistry and science and biology and all of that.”