DAVIDSON, NC – Isabella “Bella” Jacoby, of Huntersville, has been selected for the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP), having scored in the top 2.5% among Hispanic and Latino PSAT/NMSQT takers in our region.

This recognition “is an incredible honor,” Bella says. “I’ve put in a lot of hard work these past few years, but I’m honestly just so thankful for the opportunities given to me. I love my school.” Bella adds that Woodlawn’s Environmental Studies teacher, Chris Van Amburgh, has been a tremendous role model. “He’s taught me a ton about sustainability and ecology, and has inspired me to look toward a career in what I love.”

The College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program identifies academically outstanding Hispanic/Latino high school students. Each year, the NHRP honors about 5,000 of the highest-scoring students from more than 250,000 Hispanic/Latino juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT. These students are U.S. citizens from the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Mariana Islands, and the Marshall Islands, as well as other students attending schools abroad.

To be eligible for recognition, students must meet these requirements:

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October of their junior year in high school
• Be of at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino heritage
• Achieve the minimum required PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index score
• Achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher by the middle of junior year

While the NHRP does not provide a financial award, being named is an important academic recognition that students can include on their college applications.

“The National Hispanic Recognition Program commends students who serve as role models for their school communities by being the best they can be,” says Rachel McCall, Head of Woodlawn’s Upper School. “We are incredibly proud of Bella's hard work and achievements, and congratulate her on this prestigious honor.”

Bella personifies the well-rounded Woodlawn student. Last year at graduation, she was presented with the Achievement in the Sciences award. She’s a celebrated visual artist, and is passionate about sustainability and the outdoors; in fact, she is co-founder of the Woodlawn Outdoors Club.

She also is a remarkable athlete. A member of the NCISAA 1A State Champion Woodlawn School girls soccer team, Bella also qualified to swim two individual races and two relay races at the 2015 NCISAA 1A/2A State Championships (placing eighth overall in the 100 butterfly and ninth overall in the 50 freestyle). She’s a member of this year’s varsity cross country team and is also listed on the Woodlawn Track & Field Honor Roll for her performances in the 400m, 800m, and 1600m runs, as well as the long jump.

Adds Bella: “My whole experience at Woodlawn has motivated me to get involved in my passions, make my life more interesting, and ultimately give back to the world.”

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Woodlawn is an independent school founded in 2002 and located just north of Davidson, North Carolina. Enrolling students in grades K through 12, Woodlawn is accredited by both the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and offers a challenging, project-based academic experience.