Eight Providence Students Nominated For U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Friday, February 13, 2015

GoLocalProv News Team

The Providence Public School Department announced this week that eight high school seniors have been named candidates to become United States Presidential Scholars based on their academic or artistic achievements.

The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize and honor the country’s most distinguished high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts.

Application for the Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only. Students must be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline, enrolled in their senior year of high school and score exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT standardized test. Candidates for the arts component must meet the same criteria and participate in the National Young/Arts Program.

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The candidates are evaluated on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities and an analysis of an essay.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars candidates from the Providence Public School Department are:

Devon Callanan, Classical High School

Isabel Espinal, Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School

Frank Jajo, Central High School

Makara Keo, Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School

Kevin Leon, Mount Pleasant High School

Henry J. Mayer, Classical High School

Argela Perez, Central High School

Joseph A. Zurier, Classical High School

In April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars makes the final selection of one young man and young woman from each state, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad. In addition, up to 15 students are chosen at large. It is recognized as one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars are recognized with an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June. They will receive their medallion at a White House ceremony and will have the opportunity to meet and speak with accomplished national leaders. They will also tour the nation’s capital and other significant museums and monuments.

Related Slideshow: The Most and Least Diverse High Schools in Rhode Island

The data below reflects the 2012-13 academic year as provided by the Rhode Island Dept of Education. Values have been rounded to the nearest whole percent.

Eight Providence Students Nominated For U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Related Slideshow: The Most and Least Diverse High Schools in Rhode Island

#49 Ponaganset HS

North Scituate, RI

#48 Scituate HS

Scituate, RI

#47 Tiverton HS

Tiverton, RI

#46 Coventry HS

Coventry, RI

#45 Burrillville HS

Burrillville, RI

#44 Exeter-West Greenwich

West Greenwich, RI

#43 Chariho Regional HS

Wood River Junction, RI

#42 North Kingstown HS

North Kingstown, RI

#41 Mt. Hope HS

Bristol, RI

#40 Narragansett HS

Narragansett, RI

#39 Barrington HS

Barrington, RI

#38 Smithfield Senior HS

Smithfield, RI

Total enrollment: 772

#37 Portsmouth HS

Portsmouth, RI

#36 Lincoln Senior HS

Lincoln, RI

Total enrollment: 1,067

#35 North Smithfield HS

North Smithfield, RI

#34 Warwick Vets HS

Warwick Veterans Memorial HS, Warwick RI

#33 Toll Gate HS

Warwick, RI

#32 Pilgrim HS

Warwick, RI

#31 South Kingstown HS

South Kingstown, RI

#30 Cranston HS West

Cranston, RI

#29 East Greenwich HS

East Greenwich, RI

#28 Westerly HS

Westerly, RI

#27 Cumberland HS

Cumberland, RI

#26 West Warwick HS

West Warwick Senior HS, West Warwick, RI

Total enrollment: 982

#25 Johnston Senior HS

Johnston, RI

#24 Beacon Charter HS

Beacon Charter High School For The Arts, Woonsocket, RI

Total enrollment: 230

#23 Middletown HS

Middletown, RI

#22 East Providence HS

East Providence, RI

#21 Acad. for Career Exp.

Academy for Career Exploration, Providence, RI

#20 Central Falls HS

Central Falls, RI

Total enrollment: 838

#19 Cooley Health/Science

Cooley Health & Science Technology Academy, Providence, RI

#18 North Providence HS

North Providence, RI

#17 Times 2 Academy

Providence, RI

Total enrollment: 652

#16 Central HS

Providence, RI

#15 Mt. Pleasant HS

Providence, RI

#14 Prov. Career & Tech

Providence Career & Technical Academy, Providence, RI