The United States Department of Education and the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars have announced six Shelby County Schools’ seniors as 2015 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates. Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, now in its 51st year, is recognized as one of the nation's highest honors for high school students and each of these students represents “excellence in education and the promise of greatness” in America’s youth.  
 
Each year, up to 141 students are named as Presidential Scholars. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

This spring, a panel of educators will review the candidates, and 560 semifinalists will be announced. The Commission of Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 people appointed by the president, will make the final selection of the actual Presidential Scholars, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the award recipients in June.

Presidential Scholars will travel to Washington, D.C. in the summer as guests of the program for National Recognition Weekend. The weekend culminates in a White House-sponsored event at which the Scholars are awarded the Presidential Medallion.

For more information on the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, visit www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/index.html.

The 2015 U.S. Presidential Scholars from Shelby County Schools are:

Cordova High School

-       Katie Copley

White Station High School

-       Linnie Jiang
-       Charles Loggins
-       Prakriti Mehta
-       Xiaohan Xue
-       Kelley Yuan