The U. S. Department of Education has selected nine Greenville County Schools students as candidates for the 2010 Presidential Scholars Program. They are:

• John A. Absher, J.L. Mann High Academy
• Natasha G. Deshpande, Mauldin High
• Hannah X. Chen, Riverside High
• Judith M. Beaudoin, Benjamin L. Cole, Akshay Kumar, Angela Luo, and Maximilian E. Wolff, Southside High
• Alexis C. Aimé, Wade Hampton High and Fine Arts Center

The Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and community service. 

Students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts are nominated through the nationwide youngARTS competition conducted by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.

About 120 students are chosen annually from among outstanding graduating seniors to become Presidential Scholars.

A review committee of experts in secondary and post-secondary education evaluates candidates and select approximately 500 semifinalists. A further review in April by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects 120 Academic Scholars and Arts Scholars. All scholars are honored during a program in Washington, DC, in June.

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