Seven of 55 Louisiana high school students selected as 2009 candidates for the Presidential Scholars Program are from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS). More than 3,000 national senior-class candidates are part of the 2009 program and were selected as candidates from nearly 2.8 million student applicants who are expected to graduate from U.S. high schools this year.

These candidates were selected for their exceptional performance on either the College Board SAT or the ACT Assessment exams. Further consideration is based on students’ essays, selfassessments, description of activities, school recommendations and school transcripts. A distinguished panel of educators will review these candidate submissions and select 500 national semifinalists in early April. The Presidential Scholars Program’s EBRPSS candidates are:

Baton Rouge Magnet High School
Seena M. Khosravi
Mary R. Moroney
Ryan E. Poindexter
Lindsey A. St. Pierre
Ashton R. Grimball
Shela Gu

McKinley High School
Dana K. Trahan

Inclusion in the Presidential Scholars Program 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 the community and school activities. The Commission on Presidential Scholars will make the final decision on who eventually will be named a Presidential Scholar – one male and one female student from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and areas abroad where students reside; 15 students at-large; and up to 20 students from the creative and performing arts. The U.S. Department of Education will announce the final list of Scholars in May. They will be invited to Washington, D.C., in June to receive the Presidential Scholars medallion at a recognition ceremony. For more information about the program, call (319) 341-2777.