20 candidates in MCPS
Eleven Blair seniors have been selected as candidates for the 2006 Presidential Scholars awards, according to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) web site. These students represent more than half of the 20 candidates named from Montgomery County.
The Presidential Scholars program recognizes up to 141 high-school seniors for their academic and artistic achievements. According to an MCPS Bulletin, 2,600 students from across the nation are selected as candidates for the awards based on SAT and ACT assessment scores. In addition, up to 50 seniors are nominated as candidates for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts awards, based on participation in the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts Recognition and Talent Search.
The new writing components of both the SAT and the ACT were not considered when determining eligibility for the 2006 Presidential Scholars Program.
Seniors Eric Esch, Kenneth Ettinger, Rachel Hunter, Jordan Goldstein, Dan Han, John Kim, Rachel Kirsch, Jody Pollock, Yang Shan, John Silberholz and David White were selected for the academic component of the awards.
After meeting testing requirements, eligible seniors receive applications during Jan. An independent committee of national educators will select 500 semifinalists from across the nation based on candidates' academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership, service activities and essays, according to the bulletin. In April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars selects up to 121 academic and 20 arts semifinalists to be named Presidential Scholars.
Those named Presidential Scholars are invited to attend a recognition ceremony held in Washington, D.C., in June, during which they meet government officials, educators, authors, musicians and other accomplished professionals. In addition, Scholars are presented Presidential Scholars medallions in a ceremony hosted by the White House, according to the DOE.
Editor's note: Dan Han graduated in 2005 but was listed by the DOE as a 2006 Presidential Scholar candidate.
Christopher Consolino. Christopher Consolino is a senior in Communication Arts Program. If Chris had free time, he would spend it practicing piano and taking pictures with his 15 year-old Minolta. He would also like to stress how much better wet process photography is than digital. Most of … More »
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