U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will honor high school graduates named as 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholars on Sunday, June 16 during a ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C. He will congratulate the scholars, among the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors, for their outstanding academic and artistic achievements, their leadership, and their public service. During the ceremony, each scholar will be presented with the Presidential Scholar Medallion, on behalf of the White House.
The 141 U.S. Presidential Scholars of 2013 were announced May 6. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by President Obama, selects honored scholars annually 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. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,300 candidates qualified for the 2013 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, and through nominations made by the Chief State School Officers or the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts’ national YoungArts™ program.
A complete list of 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available here.