SANFORD, Maine – Sanford High School senior Aislynn K. Worden is a semifinalist in the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
At the high school on Wednesday, Worden said she was surprised when she got the news last fall.
“I still am,” she added.
Worden is one of only seven seniors in Maine named in a recent U.S. Department of Education announcement about those being considered for the program.
She joins Harshini K. Chaganti, of Scarborough High School; Devon Michael Hunter, of John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor; Pedro Santiago Little-Siebold, of Ellsworth High School; Culiandra Rose Nero, of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School; Swetha Palaniappan, of Cape Elizabeth High School; and Wade F. Wahlig, of Falmouth High School.
Today
Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low around 35F. ESE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..
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Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low around 35F. ESE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Updated: May 4, 2021 @ 3:42 pm
EHS senior named a U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalist
ELLSWORTH
From a pool of over 6,500 high school seniors nominated across the country, Ellsworth senior Pedro Santiago Little-Siebold is one of 625 semifinalists in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The initial pool was culled from the 3.6 million seniors graduating this spring based on grade point averages and SAT scores or, for arts students, their creative and academic achievements.
“To be honest, I hadn’t heard of the program before,” Little-Siebold said. “I got it in the mail from the Department of Education and I was like, whoa, what’s this? Yeah, it was quite something.”
Jaston B. McClure, a Moscow High student was selected as semifinalists for the U.S. 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 who score exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT of the American College Testing Program.
Finalists will be announced in May.
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Fiona Wu s parents were the first to learn about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program and urged her to apply.
The Greenwood Laboratory School senior knew the prestigious honor was a long shot, even for the most accomplished high school seniors. Each year, up to 161 students as few as two from each state are selected.
Wu, the daughter of Shuo-Sheng Wu and Xiaomin Qui, made the initial cut, listed as a candidate for the honor in early January along with nearly 100 Missouri seniors.
She recently advanced, named one of 625 semifinalists in the U.S. including just 11 from Missouri. On the short list, she is the only one from the Springfield area.