SOUTH FORSYTH — Three Pinecrest Academy seniors recently received national recognition for their high school academic achievements.

Santiago Villar was named a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar.

According to Vivian Heard, communications coordinator for the private Catholic school in south Forsyth, The College Board recognizes “academically outstanding Hispanic/Latino U.S. high school juniors” with this honor during their senior year.

To qualify for the award, Villar achieved scores in the top 2.5 percent of Hispanic and Latino PSAT/NMSQT test takers in the region while maintaining a 3.5 grade point average or above through the middle of his junior year.

Also recognized were Drew Bryant and Garrett Witt. Both are currently semifinalists in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Competition, Heard said.

Making the cut for semifinalist required each student to earn top PSAT/NMSQT scores in Georgia.

Bryant and Witt are among about 16,000 students, or about one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, to qualify.

Finalists for this competition will be announced in February.