VIRGINIA, USA — Nine students from the DMV region have been awarded the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholar award, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
161 students are named Presidential Scholars each year, and the award is one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.
The awards given are separated for Scholar for U.S. Presidential Scholar in Arts and Scholar for U.S Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.
The eight students from DC, Maryland and Virginia are:
- District of Columbia - Stephen Thomas Mirabello, Washington - School Without Walls DC - Tess I Weinreich, Washington - The Potomac School
- Virginia - Shreya Somayajula, Ashburn - Stone Bridge High School VA - Jason Wang, Vienna - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology
- Maryland - Marvin Li, Salisbury - James M Bennett High School MD - Saanika Mahashetty, Boyds - Richard Montgomery High School **MD - Sahil Patel, Waldorf - North Point High School MD - Avinash J. Thakkar, Rosedale - Mcdonogh School **MD - Kathy Yao, Lutherville - Dulaney High School
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts, according to the Department of Education.