Kittatinny student commended in national program

NEWTON — Principal Christian Angelillo of Kittatinny Regional High School has announced that Dillon Campbell has been named a Commended Student in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. A letter of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, has been presented by the principal to this scholastically talented senior. Dillon Campbell is the son of Mr. Bill Campbell of Hampton Township. In addition to his academic studies, Dillon participates in several extracurricular activities. He has been a member of the Kittatinny Swim Team and the school’s Debate Team for four years. He has participated in Search, which is a team-oriented physical endurance activity. He is also a member of the state-sponsored Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute group and has attended their summer camp which stresses the importance of an alcohol and drug-free lifestyle. Student-attendees are then encouraged to return to their schools and try to influence other teens to embrace this healthy lifestyle. Outside Kittatinny, Dillon is a volunteer for the Blue Ridge Rescue Squad and has been trained to respond to emergency situations. This year his team will participate in the Blue Ridge Cadet state-wide competition in Atlantic City. They will be evaluated on their skills, timing and how well they work together as a team. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2012 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2012 competition by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. “The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success” said a spokesperson for the NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”