Nashua student is a Presidential Scholar candidate

To The Press

A Nashua-Plainfield High School senior has been named a candidate for the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Jayne Levi of Nashua is one of 4,500 candidates in the prestigious program, out of almost 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools this spring.

“This is one of the most exclusive and prestigious honors for graduating seniors in the U.S.,” said Suzan Turner, 6-12 TAG instructor and instructional coach at Nashua-Plainfield.

Levi is the daughter of Dan and Kirsten Levi of Nashua.

“This is the third time in the past three years that a Nashua-Plainfield student has been nominated as a candidate for this award,” Turner said.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their academic success, leadership and service to school and community.

It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students demonstrating exceptional scholarship and talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, it was expanded once again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical fields.

Up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from the senior class candidates.

All scholars are invited to Washington, DC, in June for the National Recognition Program, featuring events and enrichment activities and culminating in the presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a White House-sponsored ceremony.

A panel of educators will review the candidates’ submissions and select about 600 semifinalists in early April. The Commission on Presidential Scholars will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in May.

Students have the opportunity to become U.S. Presidential Scholars based on three paths of accomplishment. The majority of the Scholars are selected on the basis of broad academic achievement, first identified by their scores on the ACT or SAT test.

About 20 students are selected on the basis of their academic and artistic scholarship in the visual arts, the performing arts or creative writing, and about 20 additional students are selected on the basis of their ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.