Haley Peters of Shrewsbury, a Peddie School (Hightstown) senior, was selected by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the United States Department of Education as a candidate for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. Approximately 3,000 students were identified from nearly 3.2 million graduating high school seniors. Peters was selected as one of approximately 560 semifinalists to advance to the final round of competition.
Candidates were chosen based on superior academic achievement, leadership qualities, strong character, and involvement in community and school activities. Further consideration is based on student essays, school transcripts and either the College Board SAT or the ACT assessments.
In late April, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars will review the semifinalist applications and select up to 121 Academic Scholars and up to 20 in the Arts.
The United States Presidential Scholars Programwas established in 1964 to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts.
All scholars are invited to Washington, D.C., in June to participate in National RecognitionWeek, which includes enrichment activities and events and culminates with a Presidential Scholars medallion presentation during a ceremony sponsored by the White House. In honoring the Presidential Scholars, the president of the United States symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential.
Peters will attend Duke University, Durham, N.C., this fall.
John Merris, a Shrewsbury resident and Red Bank Regional High School (RBR) senior, was recently awarded the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey’s (ATSNJ) Vito D. Reccine Memorial High School Scholarship to pursue a degree in athletic training at Montclair University.
Sidelined from participating in sports by a congenital bone condition, he volunteered to be a student athletic trainer at RBR. The commitment required him to attend every single home sports game as well as all away football games. He was also present for all school sports practices.
Merris was first certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in sixth grade and is currently an active member of both the Little Silver and Shrewsbury first aid squads. He also is a member of the Shrewsbury Fire Department, at one time serving as its cadet captain. He officially graduates from the Monmouth County Fire Academy in May.
In addition to his community volunteer career and high school athletic training responsibilities, Merris is a member of the Student-to-Student Committee, the Technical Society Association, and the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).
An avid Boy Scout, Merris recently earned the honor of Eagle Scout for developing a grid to identify all fire hydrants in the town of Shrewsbury for the fire department and placing reflective bands around the hydrants. He currently serves as a junior assistant scoutmaster.
Only one scholarship recipient is selected each year. Winners are high school seniors from New Jersey who aspire to careers in athletic training and have been accepted to a college or university that sponsors a National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification approved program.