Please join me in giving a well-deserved congratulations to our very own Rebecca Cunningham who was recently named a U.S. Presidential Scholar!
Each year, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.
What makes this achievement so amazing is that of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,000 candidates qualified for the award but only two students in each state earned this distinction, and Rebecca Cunningham is one of them. Rebecca is BSD’s fifth Presidential Scholar since 2014, joining Gailin L. Pease (2014), Anders Ode (2017), Mary Markley (2018), and Jackson Elder (2019) in earning this incredible accomplishment.
Personally speaking, I have had the pleasure of seeing Rebecca’s commitment to community service and leadership firsthand. Whether as a member of my advisory group last year, interviewing me for the register, or seeing you shine in class or on the nordic and XCounty courses, I have truly enjoyed your positive spirit, curiosity and leadership. You are a strong and vocal advocate for your peers and for those who do not always have a place at the table. Thank you for being engaged in making your school building, school district, and community a better place.
Congratulations on this award, you have made us all proud!
-Superintendent Flanagan
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2022 Contact: Press Office (202) 401-1576 or press@ed.gov |
| Two Vermont Students Named 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today announced the 58th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields. The Vermont scholars include (hometown, scholar, school, location): VT – Burlington – Rebecca Cunningham, Burlington High School, Burlington, Vermont VT – South Burlington – Sriram Sethuraman, South Burlington High School, South Burlington, Vermont. “Our 2022 Presidential Scholars represent the best of America, and remind us that when empowered by education, there are no limits to what our young people can achieve,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Today, I join President Biden to celebrate a class of scholars whose pursuit of knowledge, generosity of spirit, and exceptional talents bring our nation tremendous pride. Throughout one of the most trying periods in our nation’s history and amid our recovery from the pandemic, our students have once again demonstrated their strength and that they have so much to contribute to our country. Thanks to them, I know America’s future is bright.” The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,000 candidates qualified for the 2022 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by chief state school officers, other partner recognition organizations and YoungArts, the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists. As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education. Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 7,900 of the nation’s top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. The Presidential Scholars Class of 2022 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer with an online recognition program. A complete list of 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available at http://www.ed.gov/psp. |
