COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTW)- State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced that ten South Carolina students were named semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program, and two of them were from our area.
Here are South Carolina’s semifinalists:
Hamza M. Ahmed
South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics
Thomas L. Birdsong
Irmo High School
Lexington-Richland Five
Elizabeth A. Farrar
River Bluff High School
Lexington One
Danielle Lodge (recommended for Scholar as a CTE candidate)
Summerville High School
Dorchester Two
Jessica L. Marlow
Dorman High School
Spartanburg Six
Jonathan J. Michala
Eastside High School
Greenville District
Lauren B. Schexnayder
Myrtle Beach High School
Horry County Schools
Nathaniel J. Schlosser
Academic Magnet High School
Katherine Woo (recommended for Scholar in the Arts)
Riverside High School
Greenville District
Karen R. Zhao
Riverside High School
Greenville District
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was expanded to include students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. This year, the program was expanded to include students in career and technical education fields (CTE).
Up to 161 students are selected annually as U.S. Presidential Scholars, based on academic achievement and exceptional performance on the SAT or ACT.
Scholars are recognized with an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital in June as part of the recognition program. They are awarded the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House.