Lake County Gazette

Cameron Garrison, a senior at Richmond-Burton Community High School, has been named a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship competition. This recognition places Garrison among the top students nationwide.

Principal Mike Baird announced the news to the school community, stating, "It is with great pride that I share some exciting news about one of our seniors, Cam Garrison. Cam has been named a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship competition, placing them among the top students in the nation."

Baird added, "This recognition is a reflection of Cam’s dedication, hard work, and academic excellence. We are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and the way he represents our school community with such distinction."

Richmond-Burton Community High School is part of District 157 in McHenry County. The district serves a diverse student body that is 85.9 percent White, 0.3 percent Black, 9.8 percent Hispanic, and 1.8 percent Asian according to data from the Illinois State Board of Education (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district employs 43 teachers who earn an average salary of $65,602 before pension contributions; more than half are women and none have more than ten absences per year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In 2020, District 157 spent $29,755 per student for a total expenditure of $18,180,232 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

The school community was encouraged by Principal Baird to join in congratulating Garrison on this achievement.