Fayette County Public Schools boasts five of Kentucky’s eight semifinalists for this year’s class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, which is one of the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing high school students’ accomplishments in academics or the arts. Still in the running are seniors Marie Armbruster of Lafayette and Athena Kern, Nelson Ng, Valerie Sarge and Joseph Schneider, all of Paul Laurence Dunbar High.
FCPS had 14 of Kentucky's 47 candidates, also including Henry Clay High's Leo de Castro, Connor Langley and Henry Russell; Lafayette's Jane Herbener; and Dunbar's Christine Brandewie, Ryan Draper, Youn Seon Han, Megan Kamb and John Luan.
The 2014 Presidential Scholars, who will be selected later this spring, will connect with government leaders, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and others in Washington, D.C., this summer. The new graduates will also grapple with global issues, volunteer for service projects, attend recitals and receptions, and tour area museums and monuments. Each student will also receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.
The scholars are chosen based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. The recipients include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.