8 local seniors are candidates for Presidential Scholar Award

8 local seniors are candidates for Presidential Scholar Award

Eight Washoe County School District seniors have been notified by the U.S. Department of Education that they are candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.

The final 141 students chosen to be Presidential Scholars will travel to Washington, D.C., in June for several days of educational and cultural activities, culminating in a White House-sponsored award ceremony.

Each year, about 3,000 candidates are identified for having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or ACT college admission assessments. Approximately 20 females and 20 males from each state are selected.

Students from Washoe County are Anna Louie from Wooster High School; Austin Elcano from McQueen High School; Cheryl Lee, William Monroe, Kiernan Murphy and Kayla Sheridan from Reno High School; Garrett Menghini from Damonte Ranch High School; and David Wagner from Spanish Springs High School.

The seniors now must submit an application, including transcripts, essays and self-assessments.

The finalists will be named in April.

About 500 students from across the United States will be named semi-finalists, and their applications will then be reviewed by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars who will name the 141 finalists in April. They will be invited to Washington, D.C., for a national ceremony in June.

Source: RGJ