Emma Hargreaves, a senior at OTHS, has been announced as one of just two Maine students in the 2019 class of U.S. Presidential Scholars. Through her hard work and the support of amazing educators, Emma overcame initial reading struggles to reach high achievement and her dreams.
The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.
Of the 3.6 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,200 candidates qualified for the 2019 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams or through nominations made by Chief State School Officers, other partner recognition organizations and the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts™ competition.
As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 Scholars in the Arts and 20 Scholars in Career and Technical Education.
Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 7,500 of the nation’s top-performing students with an annual ceremony in Washington, D.C. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
The 2019 ceremony will be held June 23, when each honoree will receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.
Emma also recently was named a $5,000 scholarship recipient from the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame press release shared the following:
A multi-talented student athlete, Emma is a high level competitor in gymnastics, track and field, and soccer. The 2019 Indoor State Champion in the shot put, Emma was also named First Team All-State. She is a three-time Maine State YMCA Gymnastics Champion and a seven time New England YMCA Gymnastics Championship Qualifier earning top honors in 2016. She was also a six time National Gymnastics Qualifier and a three time National Competitor. Emma was nationally ranked 3rd All-Around YMCA Gymnast in Long Beach, CA, in 2016.
Emma is President of the National Honor Society, the Key Club Editor, a Dirigo Girl’s State delegate, and an ALA Girl’s Nation Senator in Washington, D.C. She is Valedictorian of her class and will be attending Bowdoin College in the fall, where she intends to major in English and Government Studies and compete on the Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams.
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