ANDOVER, Mass. (May 4, 2005)—Candace ’05 has been named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. The selection of 141 outstanding American high school seniors was announced Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. “These distinguished seniors are proof of how far our students can go with the support of challenging academic standards, accountability for results, proven practices and first-rate teachers,” said Spellings.

The scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in academics or the arts, as well as for their leadership, character and civic contributions, during national recognition events June 25-28 in Washington, D.C. This four-day celebration includes educational seminars, meetings with representatives of the three branches of government, a morning of community service, an exhibition of scholars’ artwork and a public performance in the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center by the Presidential Scholars in the Arts. The events culminate with the presentation to the students of the Presidential Scholars Medallion in a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

Each Presidential Scholar has invited his or her most inspirational teacher to travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in the recognition events. Mitchell selected Elwin Sykes, instructor in English and interim director of (MS)2. He will receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Presidential Scholars program was established in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson to honor academic achievement and was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. Over 2,700 candidates from the nearly three million students expected to graduate from high school in 2005 qualified on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT assessments, or nomination through the annual nationwide Arts Recognition and Talent Search (ARTS) conducted by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.

The 28-member Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by President George W. Bush ’64, made the final selection from a pool of over 500 semifinalists. Scholars are chosen on the basis of broad academic achievement, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of leadership, community service and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.