WHRHS Seniors Nominated as Presidential Scholars

Based on their academic achievement and distinguished high school records, two members of Class of 2012, Priyanka Goyal and Michael Ma, are being considered for the honor of being named United States Presidential Scholars. They are in a pool of some 500 high school seniors nationwide to be considered  for achieving the title, “Presidential Scholar.” This is the second consecutive year that this honor has been extended to two members of Hill’s graduating class.

The United States Presidential Scholars Program, established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President, recognizes and honors some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year some 3,000 candidates who are United States citizens and legal permanent residents, are identified for the academic component of the program by having scored exceptionally well on the SAT (or ACT, its equivalent) which are exams nationally recognized as markers of academic excellence.

From this initial pool, approximately 20 females and 20 males were selected as candidates from each state, D.C., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad. A qualified review committee then evaluates candidates on their academic achievements, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities and the quality and content of their essays, winnowing the list down to 500 Semifinalists.

There is also a parallel program that recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performance arts.

The White House Committee on Presidential Scholars then reviews the semifinalists, applying the same criteria used by the Review Committee, selecting up to 121 Scholars and up to 20 Arts Scholars.

Should they be selected, the Scholars (along with one teacher, who, the Scholars say, has been of greatest influence) are honored for their accomplishments during National Recognition Week, held in June in Washington, D.C. During their expense -paid trip, they meet government officials, educators, authors, scientists, and other accomplished people and are awarded Presidential Scholars Medallion medallions at a White House ceremony.

Warren residents Goyal and Ma, both of  whom were inducted into the National Honor Society last fall, fit the requirements for scholastic excellence, and  both are  deeply involved  in extra-curricular activities.

Goyal is an AP Scholar with Distinction, member of the English and French Honor Societies, member of the Hills fencing team, was named to the Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology last summer, is co-captain of the Academic Team,  is a member of the Watchung First Aid Squad, and has the Silver Award  in Girl Scouting. She will attend Princeton in the fall.

Ma was named to the prestigious Annual Research Science Institute at MIT last summer, is a National Merit Finalist with 800 scores, a Merck Scholar. He  plays varsity tennis (and the viola, in the Young Players Philharmonic). He’s captain of the Academic Team and the prize-winning Math  Team  as well as holding first-place in  New Jersey Math Team competition. He will attend Harvard in the fall.