Schools

LHS Student Named Presidential Scholar Candidate

Irene Connelly, a graduating senior at Lawrence High School, was selected as a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program from a pool of nearly 3.4 million students who will graduate from U.S. high schools in 2013.

Irene Connelly, a senior at Lawrence High School, has been named one of over 3,000 prestigious candidates in the 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

As stated by the U.S. Department of Education, candidates were selected from nearly 3.4 million U.S. high school seniors on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character, involvement in community and school activities, as well as exceptional performance on either the College Board SAT or the ACT Assessment.

Further consideration is based on students' essays, self-assessments, descriptions of activities, school recommendations, and school transcripts. A distinguished panel of educators will review the submissions and select 500 semifinalists in early April.

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Learn more about the program and next steps for Irene in this news release issued by the United States Department of Education:

Irene Connelly, a graduating senior at Lawrence High School, has been named one of more than 3,000 candidates in the 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The candidates were selected from nearly 3.4 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2013.

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, now in its 49th year, is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

Over 3,000 candidates were selected for their exceptional performance on either the College Board SAT or the ACT Assessment. In addition, each Chief State School Officer (CSSO) was invited to nominate three male and three female candidates, based on their outstanding scholarship, residing in the CSSO’s jurisdiction. Further consideration is based on students’ essays, self-assessments, descriptions of activities, school recommendations, and school transcripts. A distinguished panel of educators will review these submissions and select 500 semifinalists in early April.

The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 eminent citizens appointed by the President, will make final selection of the Scholars. They will select one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. students living abroad; 15 students at-large; and up to 20 students from the creative and performing arts. The U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in May.

Scholars will be invited to Washington, DC, for several days in June to receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a recognition ceremony and to participate in events and activities with their elected representatives, educators, and other leading individuals in public life.

Irene is the daughter of Mark Connelly and Carol Katz Connelly, and can be reached c/o Doreen Welsh, Lawrence High School, 609-671-5510.

For more information about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, parents and students can call the U.S. Presidential Scholars Office at 319-341-2PSP (319-341-2777), or send an e-mail to PSP@act.org.

 

Editor's Note: The above news brief was contributed by Lawrence Township Public Schools.

 


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