Contact: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Friday, February 25, 2011

Fayette County Public Schools boasts 15 of Kentucky’s 53 candidates for the 2011 Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s top honors for high school students.

Each year, as many as 141 seniors are named Presidential Scholars for their outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship and community service. Congratulations to these FCPS candidates.

From Henry Clay High School:

• Devin Booker, Jeremy Bradford, Madeline Mooney and Jesse Staben

From Lafayette High School:

• Eleanor Todd

From Paul Laurence Dunbar High School:

• Nur Ali, Jingyuan Fu, Jay Li, Minghuang Liu, Victor Macrinici, Andrea Merchak, Roshan Palli and Gareth Voss

From Tates Creek High School:

• Michael Druggan and Allison Young

Those selected as Presidential Scholars will spend several days this June in Washington, D.C., where they will have access to government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and other accomplished people. The new graduates will have a chance wrestle with global issues; volunteer for service projects; attend recitals, receptions and ceremonies in their honor; and visit area museums and monuments.

All graduating seniors who are U.S. citizens and have scored exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT are automatically considered for participation in the Presidential Scholars Program, which was established in 1964. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts.