Presidential Honor to Robert Semco

On Behalf of the Board, Faculty and Staff, I am blessed and pleased to announce that Robert S. Semco, Jr., a senior at Aquidneck Island Christian Academy, has been invited to be a candidate in the
2014 United States Presidential Scholars Program.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors for their accomplishments in many areas:  academic success, leadership, and service to school and community. Each year, up to 141 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.  These students represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America's youth.
 
Eligibility for the approximately 3000 academic candidates in this program is given to students who score exceptionally well on either the SAT of the College Board or the ACT of the American College Testing Program, based on tests taken during the two-year window that begins in September, 2011 and runs through October, 2013, (for the recognition cycle concluding in June, 2014).  Approximately twenty females and twenty males are selected as candidates from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad based on SAT and ACT scores. Application is by invitation only; therefore, students may not apply individually to the Program, nor may their schools nominate them.

A review committee of qualified individuals experienced in secondary and post-secondary education evaluates candidates on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay. Approximately 560 candidates are named semifinalists and forwarded to the Commission for further review.

In April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars reviews the applications of all semifinalists based on the same criteria used by the review committee. The Commission selects up to 121 academic scholars and up to 20 arts scholars. All scholars are honored for their accomplishments during National Recognition Weekend, held in June in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Presidential Scholars are guests of the Commission during National Recognition Weekend and enjoy an expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and other accomplished people. During the weekend, scholars have the opportunity to visit museums and monuments, and to attend recitals, receptions and ceremonies. To commemorate their achievement, the Scholars are awarded the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

All U.S. Presidential Scholars are asked to identify those educators who have most influenced them. The selected educators and the Scholar families are invited to attend National Recognition Weekend.