More Resources List of Presidential Scholars (2006)

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the selection of 141 outstanding American high school seniors as the 2006 Presidential Scholars. These students have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to school and community. Presidential scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington, D.C. from June 24-27.

"The 2006 Presidential Scholars embody the academic excellence and innovative thinking our students need to compete and thrive in college and the workforce." Spellings said. They remind us of the great potential residing in all our nation's youth."

The 141 Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts. A 27-member Commission on Presidential Scholars appointed by President Bush selected the Scholars based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

For the past 42 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 5,000 of the nation's top-performing students. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 2,700 candidates qualified on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, or by nomination through the nationwide Arts Recognition and Talent Search conducted by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.

The Presidential Scholars program was created in 1964 to honor academic achievement. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. Since 1983, each Presidential Scholar has invited his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington, D.C. to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education and to participate in the recognition events.

Note to editors: A complete list of Presidential Scholars is available at http://www.ed.gov/programs/psp/2006/scholars.html

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