Fifteen Wheeler Students Selected as Candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
January 27, 2022
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program annually recognizes some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. We are proud to share that this year, 12 Wheeler students have been selected as program candidates by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the United States Department of Education. The Wheeler candidates are William Augustyn ’22, Anna Block ’22, Paul Chirkov ’22, Timothy Chirkov ’22, Elizabeth Chivers ’22, Manolo Dal Bo ’22, Spencer Krex ’22, Oscar Lledo Osborn ’22, Noah Medina ’22, Neil Panth ’22, Charles Ragona ’22, Genevieve Steever ’22, Carl Wehbe ’22, Tamar Weil ’22, and Simon Yang ’22.
“In the past 11 years, dozens of Wheeler students have progressed from candidate to semifinalist status, and over that time, six Wheeler students were named U.S. Presidential Scholars and represented Rhode Island in Washington, DC,” says Director of College Counseling Amy Baumgartel Singer ’89, P’20, P’24. “We are so very proud of this year’s candidates and wish them well as they travel the same path that many Wheeler students have blazed before them.”
Students in each state have the opportunity to become U.S. Presidential Scholars based on three paths of accomplishment. The majority of Scholars are selected on the basis of broad academic achievement, while a smaller number of Scholars are selected based on their academic and artistic scholarship in the visual arts, the performing arts, or creative writing, and others are selected based on their ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
To continue in the selection process, all candidates must complete and submit a collection of materials for review, including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. A review committee experienced in secondary and post-secondary education will then evaluate candidates on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and the quality and content of their essay. 600 candidates will be named semifinalists, and in April, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars will review the semifinalists’ applications and ultimately select up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars.
