Havre de Grace senior to move forward in application process for U.S. Presidential Scholar Award

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Tom Luu, a senior at Havre de Grace High School, has been selected by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to submit an application for the 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholar Award. Tom was one of 10 male students selected by MSDE to move forward in the application process.

Local superintendents nominated one male and one female student graduating in June 2017 who demonstrate outstanding scholarship. From those nominations, MSDE randomly selected 10 male and 10 female candidates for submission to the Commission on Presidential Scholars.

Candidates will go through the application process and be evaluated on service, leadership, and academics, as well as discretionary points for extraordinary achievement, heavy workload, family responsibilities, or obstacles overcome.

Semifinalists for the award will be announced in mid-April, and the award recipients will be named in early May.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.

Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D. C. in June and are presented the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House, in commemoration of their achievements.

During their visit to Washington, Scholars have access to important national and international figures, including government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and other accomplished people.

To learn more about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program and the Commission on Presidential Scholars, go to: www.ed.gov/psp.

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