Two Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students have been named Presidential Scholars, one of the highest honors given to U.S. high school seniors.

Sherri Y. Geng of Montgomery Blair High School was selected as an academic Presidential Scholar on the basis of academic achievement. Sandra Wolf-Meei Cameron of Poolesville High School was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts for her accomplishments in the performing arts.

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of citizens appointed by the president, announced the scholars this month.

Each year, up to 121 students nationwide are named Presidential Scholars for academic achievement (including one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and from U.S. students living abroad, plus 15 at-large students). Another 20 are named Presidential Scholars in the Arts for their scholarship in the visual arts, performing arts, or creative writing.

Two other Maryland students also were named Presidential Scholars, one academic and one arts scholar.

In addition to Geng and Cameron, five MCPS students were named semifinalists for the 2005 Presidential Scholars awards. They are Kendra E. Leigh, Montgomery Blair High School; Eric S. Ma, Montgomery Blair High School; Paul G. Moskowitz, Walt Whitman High School; Eric S. Wang, Walt Whitman High School; and Rebecca R. Sugar, Montgomery Blair High School (arts semifinalist).

The MCPS students were among 18 semifinalists from the state of Maryland. The number of semifinalists from each state or jurisdiction is based on a proportionate number of test-takers for that state.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the president, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors.