State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler congratulated 64 North Dakota high school seniors who have been nominated for United States Presidential Scholar honors.
The scholars were chosen from 20 public and four nonpublic high schools. Bismarck Century has the most nominees, with 13, while Grand Forks Central had 10. Fargo’s Davies and North high schools have six nominees each.
The U.S. Department of Education’s announcement of the 65 nominees is the beginning of the process of selecting one young man and one young woman as North Dakota’s two Presidential Scholars. Those choices will be announced in early May.
Being named as a Presidential Scholar is one of the most prestigious awards a high school senior can receive, Baesler said. “Even being nominated for consideration as a Presidential Scholar is considered a high honor,” the superintendent said. “It signifies that the student has an outstanding academic history and a record of accomplishment.”
The Department of Education invites students to apply to become Presidential Scholars based on their scores on the SAT or ACT college entrance exams. Baesler and designated education organizations, including the Department of Career and Technical Education, also may nominate candidates.
Nominees are asked to complete a nine-page application that inquires about jobs they have held, special talents they have, and community activities in which they have been involved. It asks nominees to write short essays describing family characteristics, creative work, significant community contributions, and how they have responded to a challenge or mistake.
The two North Dakota young people who are chosen as Presidential Scholars will receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June, where they will be presented with a special medallion and have opportunities to meet national and international notables in education, music, science, and other disciplines.
Here is the list of the 2020 Presidential Scholar nominees from North Dakota:
Berthold (1)
Aubrey D. Lemer, Berthold
Bismarck High (1)
Gabrielle C. Belanger, Bismarck
Bismarck Century (13)
Leah J. Bandy, Bismarck
Ethan N. Berger, Bismarck
Wyatt Birst, Bismarck
Makenna D. Cavanagh, Bismarck
Kira R. Eliason, Bismarck
Alexander M. Heiser, Bismarck
Madelyn House, Bismarck
Srikrishna B. Kandooru, Bismarck
Ke Lin, Bismarck
Jacob E. Lundstrom, Bismarck
Avery C. Meyhoff, Bismarck
Maren H. Schettler, Bismarck
Ellie Zentner, Bismarck
Bismarck Legacy (2)
Cody L. Goehring, Menoken
Sean Joyce, Bismarck
Bismarck Shiloh Christian (1)
Andrew S. Fergel, Mandan
Bottineau (2)
Jacob Reimche, Bottineau
Nikoli E. Schoenborn, Bottineau
Casselton Central Cass (1)
Katherine M. Kempel, Casselton
Dickinson (1)
William J. Bleyenberg, Dickinson
Devils Lake (2)
Kali A. Bjornson, Devils Lake
Colby D. Rance, Webster
Ellendale (1)
Caleb W. Hauck, Forbes
Fargo Davies (6)
Habiba Heshmat, Fargo
Joanna Y. Lin, Fargo
Elijah J. Satrom, Fargo
Enoch D. Satrom, Fargo
Forrest S. Weintraub, Fargo
Allen Z. Wu, Fargo
Fargo North (6)
Philip C. Dowdell, Fargo
Roy Bennett K. Heng, Fargo
Teegan M. Nordstrom, Fargo
Jacob A. Shelver, Fargo
Mason J. Taragos, Fargo
Cindy L. Wang, Fargo
Fargo Shanley (4)
Luke T. Beiswenger, Fargo
Olivia S. Johnson, Fargo
Evan M. Reinholz, Fargo
Brandon Rostberg, West Fargo
Fargo South (3)
Julia Q. Bauroth, Fargo
Miriam E. Duncan, Fargo
Vincent D. Holmlund, Fargo
Grand Forks Central (10)
Rachel Craig, Grand Forks
Oliver T. Dalmi, Grand Forks
Daniel A. Hettich, Grand Forks
Aidan Fire, Grand Forks
William L. Lawson-Body, Grand Forks
Katherine Liberman, Larimore
Jack E. Peterson, Grand Forks
Mikayla E. Weiss, Grand Forks
Oliver D. Wolfe, Grand Forks
Gareth J. Wu, Grand Forks
Grand Forks Red River (2)
Aiden O. Krogh, Grand Forks
Joseph R. Votava, Grand Forks
Lakota (1)
Evan Halvorson, Lawton
Minot Our Redeemer’s Christian (1)
Jack T. Wolsky, Minot
Moorhead Park Christian (1)
Carter B. Aamodt, West Fargo
North Shore (1)
Bradyn T. Lenning, Plaza
Oakes (1)
Ryan Hermes, Oakes
Nicole Schmitz, Oakes
Rugby (1)
Melody C. Johnson, Rugby
South Heart (1)
Genavive R. Robbins, Dickinson
West Fargo High (1)
Ryan L. Orth, West Fargo