The College Board has four recognition programs. To be eligible for the award, a student must identify as African American, Hispanic, Indigenous, or attend high school in a rural area or small town.

Twelve of the students received the National Rural and Small Town Award (NRSTA). Among them were Amanda Walker, Emma Mohring, Grace O’Neil, Grant Kenamond, Jenna Cecconi, Kathryn Prather, Lance Miller, Makenna Kelly, Nadia Szymialis, Nakayi Simoyi, Olivia Kuntz and Rylin Russell.

Simoyi was recognized with both the NRSTA and the National African American Recognition Award, while Mya Bogers received the National Hispanic Recognition Award.

This is not a scholarship program, but students can include this academic honor in their college and scholarship applications, according to the College Board.

The program is open to junior and sophomore students.

The student must have a 3.5 GPA or higher at the time they submit their application, and grade point average is factored in with college admission test scores when deciding the recognition.

Those eligible must have taken the PSAT 10 in spring 2021, the PSAT/NMSQT in fall 2021, or at least two distinct AP exams since 8th grade.