Harriton Senior Named 2015 U.S. Presidential Scholar

Harriton High School senior Sang Bin Park was recently selected as a 2015 U.S. Presidential Scholar – a program established in 1964, by executive order of the President, honoring 141 of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.

Park – also a celebrated cellist – was chosen as one of the program’s 20 Scholars of the Arts, recognizing students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts.

Scholars of the Arts were nominated to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars through the YoungArts program for their artistic achievement, and then selected based on academic achievement, personal characteristics and leadership and service activities. The award, presented on behalf of the President of the United States, is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

Park and his fellow Presidential Scholars will travel to Washington D.C. in June for several days of recognition activities during which time they will meet with government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and other leaders; visit museums and monuments in our nation’s capital; and attend recitals, receptions and ceremonies held in their honor.

In addition to these activities, the Scholars in the Arts have the opportunity to display their artwork in an exhibition and perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

“Presidential Scholars demonstrate the accomplishments that can be made when students challenge themselves, set the highest standards, and commit themselves to excellence,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “These scholars are poised to make their mark on our nation in every field imaginable: the arts and humanities, science and technology, law and medicine, business and finance, education and government—to name a few.”

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by President Obama, selects honored scholars annually 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.

Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 4,300 candidates qualified for the 2015 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, and through nominations made by Chief State School Officers or the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts competition.

The 2015 Scholars are comprised of 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 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

The 2015 ceremony will be held June 21, when each honoree will receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.

(Photo courtesy Lower Merion School District)