Lakeside Swimmer Named Semi-Finalist for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

's All-American swimmer John Lane has been named as a semi-finalist for the Presidential Scholars program, an honor created to highlight the nation's most impressive high school seniors.

Here's a statement from the DeKalb County School System:

Each year, the most accomplished high school seniors across the country are named as United States Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. This year, two DeKalb Schools students have been named semi-finalists in the U.S. Presidential Scholars program. Eilidh Geddes from Dunwoody High School and John “Jack” Lane of Lakeside High School were among 16 students from Georgia chosen as semi-finalists for this honor.
 
Eilidh and Jack were invited to apply for this prestigious award after ranking among the top 50 students in Georgia based on ACT and SAT scores. After being invited to apply, both students submitted essays and teacher recommendations for review.
 
Jack is an All American swimmer at Lakeside and qualified for participation in the 2012 Olympic Trials. He also holds four Georgia State Individual Gold medals, as well as a Georgia State Record in the 100 Butterfly. Last summer he qualified for the U.S.A. National Youth Swim Team. He is also a three-time Scholastic All American, and an accomplished musician who plays the cello in the Lakeside orchestra. His community work includes coaching and teaching young swimmers and serving as an acolyte for St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church. He is a recipient of the Lakeside High School Viking Award, a recognition for excellence in character, leadership, academics and athletic ability. He plans attend Stanford University with a partial scholarship in the fall.
 
Eilidh Geddes holds 12 varsity letters at Dunwoody High in marching band, swim team and debate. Eilidh is captain of the Dunwoody High debate team, which qualified in April to attend the Tournament of Champions at the University of Kentucky. She is also president of the National Honor Society, a recipient of the Girl Scout Silver Award, a Star Student and valedictorian of her graduating class. Eilidh has earned the University of Georgia’s Foundation Fellowship, a full academic scholarship, and plans to attend UGA in the fall to study economics with the intent of attending law school.
 
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to 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.
 
For more information and updates, please visit http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/