Two District 155 seniors, Braedan Mendro, Cary-Grove High School, and Jackson Lisle, Crystal Lake Central High School, have been named semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Semifinalists. This prestigious program recognizes the top-performing high school students in the nation based on their PSAT/NMSQT scores. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and now have the opportunity to advance to finalist standing, which could lead to National Merit Scholarships totaling more than $28 million nationwide.

Braedan Mendro is active in student council, national honor society, CG elevate, invest CG, disc golf club, and baseball, and serves on the student council board. He credits teachers Tim Garis and Matthew Hawley for inspiring him to fully engage in his classes.

“They were both so passionate about their classes and preparing students for success—it made me want to put my full effort in,” said Braedan Mendro, Cary-Grove senior.

Braedan also highlights the support of his family. After high school, he plans to study mechanical engineering and hopes to pursue research in nuclear fusion or robotics.

Jackson Lisle, student council president at Crystal Lake Central, balances leadership roles with involvement in national honor society, legacy club, math team, scholastic bowl, varsity tennis, and Central Crazies. He thanks teachers like Audrey Mazzuca and Angela Welder for their support and impact on his academic growth.

“Mrs. Mazzuca’s passion for science inspired me to pursue a career that I love, and Mrs. Welder taught me grammar and test-taking skills I still use today,” said Jackson Lisle, Crystal Lake Central senior.

Outside the classroom, Jackson serves on the Crystal Lake City Youth Commission, assists in a mobile app development class, and completed an internship with Every Page Counts, a publishing company. He plans to study finance and computer science to explore his interests in technology and business.

The achievements of Braedan and Jackson reflect District 155’s dedication to academic excellence and its focus on preparing students for success beyond high school.