Delegation Applauds ND's Presidential Scholars

Press Release

Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg announced today that two North Dakota students have been selected by the White House and the U.S. Department of Education as Presidential Scholars.

Austin W. Battles, a senior atOak Grove Lutheran High School,and Courtney K. Ellenson, a senior at West Fargo High School, have been named 2011 Presidential Scholars. This distinction is based on the students' academic excellence, artistic accomplishments, and civic contributions.

"Austin and Courtney are among the best of the best. They are students of outstanding talent and character and are on a path to be America's future leaders. They have made both North Dakota and our nation very proud," the delegation said in a joint statement.

Each year, the U.S. Presidential Scholars program seeks out the nation's best and brightest students. They invite a select group of young people to apply, based on outstanding scores on the College Board SAT or ACT assessments. Applicants are further evaluated on the basis of school reports and transcripts, leadership activities, and contributions to family, school and community. The program then selects one young man and one young woman from each State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, plus an additional 15 "at-large" Scholars.

The Scholars will visit Washington, D.C. in June, to participate in a series of educational, cultural and celebratory events. They will also participate in seminars, lectures and workshops with government officials, educators, authors, and scientists and attend cultural events and ceremonies held in their honor. The weekend culminates in a White House-sponsored event at which the Scholars are awarded the Presidential Medallion.

In addition, each Scholar nominates one exceptional teacher to receive the program's Teacher Recognition Award. North Dakota's Scholars chose Mrs. Michelle Strand of Oak Grove Lutheran High School and Mr. Darrin Boehm of West Fargo High School.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is a nonpartisan, public-private partnership designed to recognize and provide leadership development experiences for some of America's most outstanding graduating high-school seniors. It is not a scholarship program, but it is one of the Nation's highest honors for high school students.

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