3 East Lyme Students Chosen As Presidential Scholar Candidates

EAST LYME, CT — Three East Lyme High School students are among over 5,000 high school seniors nationwide to be nominated for the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars program, which each year names over 100 graduating seniors "presidential scholars."

Richard Chen and Mason T. Gallo of East Lyme, as well as Aditya Kabra of Niantic, were chosen as candidates. Application for the program is by invitation only, and is based mostly on "outstanding scholarship" — including high SAT and ACT scores.

To be considered for the award, Chen, Gallo and Kabra will have to submit essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports and transcripts, according to the program's website. Around 500 semifinalists will be chosen later this month, and 121 students will be selected as scholars in April.

The program was originally established in 1964, and its website describes it as "one of the nation's highest honors for high school students."

In 1979 it grew to recognize students who excel in visual, creative and performing arts; and in 2015 it grew again, this time to recognize students who excel in career and technical education fields.

See the full list of 2022 candidates here.