Council Rock Grad Recognized As U.S. Presidential Scholar

NEWTOWN, PA — A Council Rock graduate was recognized by the Bucks County Commissioners on Wednesday as one of the country's 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars.

Richard Fang, of Newtown, is one of two Bucks County residents to receive the distinction in 2021. Commissioners also recognized Raymond Slifer, of Richlandtown, during their Wednesday meeting.

Each year, the Commission on Presidential Scholars picks just 161 students from across the country based on high school seniors’ academic success and community involvement.

Fang was vice president of the Council Rock High School North class and team captain of the debate and tennis teams, as well as first chair and section lead for the band's saxophone players. During summer break, he participated in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth and a root-seeking camp in Beijing, China.

Fang will be attending the University of Pittsburgh this fall with aspirations of going to medical school. Slifer plans to transfer to the Pennsylvania College of Technology to major in manufacturing engineering after Bucks County Community College’s Technical Entrepreneurship Program.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars program began in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program extended to include students in the visual, creative and performing arts. Then in 2015, it again extended to recognize students in the career and technical fields.

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