Three MCPS students have been named Presidential Scholars, one of the highest honors given to U.S. high school seniors.

Julie Zhu, a student at Montgomery Blair High School, received a double honor—she is one of only two students in the nation named a Presidential Scholar in both the academic and the arts recognition components of the program. Christina Zou, of Blair, and Benjamin B. Lu, of Richard Montgomery High School, were named Presidential Scholars for their academic achievement.

This is the first time since 1999 that MCPS has had three Presidential Scholars. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognized 131 Presidential Scholars, including one man and one woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad. This includes 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts and 15 chosen at-large. The scholars will be honored during National Recognition Week in Washington, D.C., in June.

All three students also were recently honored with $2,500 National Merit Scholarship Awards. Zhu plans a career in economics and painting. Zou plans to pursue a medical career. Lu plans to pursue a research career.

MCPS had 15 Presidential Scholars candidates and five Presidential Scholars semifinalists this year.

For more information, visit the Presidential Scholars web site.