Posted Thursday, April 13, 2006, The OG, news

Senior Katie Carmody has been selected as a semifinalist in the Presidential Scholars Program. She is one of only 17 Illinois students to advance to the final round in what is one of the most prestigious of all competitions for high school seniors.

The program annually invites approximately 2,600 seniors who have scored exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT to apply. To be considered further, candidates must submit essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. Candidates are evaluated on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay.

From that already elite group, only about 550 students are named semifinalists.

The Commission on Presidential Scholars will now review the semifinalists' application material. In May, the program will announce the selection of 121 students as Presidential Scholars. (That figure does not include the 20 students who will be named Presidential Scholars in the Arts; those students participate in a separate selection process.) One male and one female will be chosen from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad. In addition, up to 15 students will be chosen at large.

Presidential Scholars do not receive a monetary scholarship. Instead, they are awarded an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June, during which they will meet with government officials, educators, authors, musicians, and scientists. During the week, the Scholars will attend recitals, receptions, and ceremonies. To commemorate their achievement, the students will receive a Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

The last Uni student to be named a Presidential Scholar was Amy Chew, who graduated in 1999.

— Gargoyle staff