Twenty Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) seniors have been selected as candidates for the 2005-2006 Presidential Scholars awards, one of the highest honors given to high school seniors in the United States.

All of the MCPS students were selected from high school seniors nationwide for their academic achievements.

About 2,600 students were chosen nationwide for their exceptionally high scores on the SAT or ACT assessment. In addition, up to 50 students nationwide are chosen each year as Presidential Scholars candidates for the arts components of the program.

The 20 MCPS candidates were among 57 students (55 academic and two arts) selected from Maryland.

The MCPS Presidential Scholars candidates are:

· Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School: Colin F. Cunningham, Brian D. Go, Patrick T. McAnaney, Tyle C. Stelzig
· Montgomery Blair High School: Frederick W. Esch, Kenneth E. Ettinger, Rachel A. Hunter, Jordan C. Goldstein, Dan Han, John Y. Kim, Rachel Kirsch, Jody T. Pollock, Yang Shan, John Silberholz, David A. White
· James Hubert Blake High School: Adam Purucker
· Winston Churchill High School: Faith Kung
· Gaithersburg High School: Emily J. Howell
· Richard Montgomery High School: Mary W. Wakemanlinn
· Thomas S. Wootton High School: Shiyi Wang

An independent committee composed of national educators will select 500 semifinalists on the basis of their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities and essays. In April, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars will select up to 121 academic scholars and 20 arts scholars.

The scholars will be invited to Washington, D.C., in June for National Recognition Week, where they will receive the Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House and participate in other activities.