Baesler praises ND Presidential Scholar nominees

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Wednesday congratulated 65 North Dakota high school seniors who have been nominated for Presidential Scholar honors.

The scholars were chosen from 20 public and four nonpublic high schools. Bismarck Century has the most nominees, with 13, while Grand Forks Central had 10. Fargo’s Davies and North high schools have six nominees each.

The U.S. Department of Education’s announcement of the 65 nominees is the beginning of the process of selecting one young man and one young woman as North Dakota’s two Presidential Scholars. Those choices will be announced in early May.

Being named as a Presidential Scholar is one of the most prestigious awards a high school senior can receive, Baesler said. “Even being nominated for consideration as a Presidential Scholar is considered a high honor,” the superintendent said. “It signifies that the student has an outstanding academic history and a record of accomplishment.”

The Department of Education invites students to apply to become Presidential Scholars based on their scores on the SAT or ACT college entrance exams. Baesler and designated education organizations, including the Department of Career and Technical Education, also may nominate candidates.

Nominees are asked to complete a nine-page application that inquires about jobs they have held, special talents they have, and community activities in which they have been involved. It asks nominees to write short essays describing family characteristics, creative work, significant community contributions, and how they have responded to a challenge or mistake.

The two North Dakota young people who are chosen as Presidential Scholars will receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June, where they will be presented with a special medallion and have opportunities to meet national and international notables in education, music, science, and other disciplines.

Here is the list of the 2020 Presidential Scholar nominees from North Dakota:

Berthold (1)

Aubrey D. Lemer, Berthold​

Bismarck High (1)

Gabrielle C. Belanger, Bismarck

Bismarck Century (13)

Leah J. Bandy, Bismarck

Ethan N. Berger, Bismarck

Wyatt Birst, Bismarck

Makenna D. Cavanagh, Bismarck

Kira R. Eliason, Bismarck

Alexander M. Heiser, Bismarck

Madelyn House, Bismarck

Srikrishna B. Kandooru, Bismarck

Ke Lin, Bismarck

Jacob E. Lundstrom, Bismarck

Avery C. Meyhoff, Bismarck

Maren H. Schettler, Bismarck

Ellie Zentner, Bismarck

Bismarck Legacy (2)

Cody L. Goehring, Menoken

Sean Joyce, Bismarck

Bismarck Shiloh Christian (1)

Andrew S. Fergel, Mandan

Bottineau (2)

Jacob Reimche, Bottineau

Nikoli E. Schoenborn, Bottineau​

Casselton Central Cass (1)

Katherine M. Kempel, Casselton​

Dickinson (1)

William J. Bleyenberg, Dickinson

Devils Lake (2)

Kali A. Bjornson, Devils Lake

Colby D. Rance, Webster

Ellendale (1)

Caleb W. Hauck, Forbes

Fargo Davies (6)

Habiba Heshmat, Fargo

Joanna Y. Lin, Fargo

Elijah J. Satrom, Fargo

Enoch D. Satrom, Fargo

Forrest S. Weintraub, Fargo

Allen Z. Wu, Fargo

Fargo North (6)

Philip C. Dowdell, Fargo

Roy Bennett K. Heng, Fargo

Teegan M. Nordstrom, Fargo

Jacob A. Shelver, Fargo

Mason J. Taragos, Fargo

Cindy L. Wang, Fargo

Fargo Shanley (4)

Luke T. Beiswenger, Fargo

Olivia S. Johnson, Fargo

Evan M. Reinholz, Fargo

Brandon Rostberg, West Fargo

Fargo South (3)

Julia Q. Bauroth, Fargo

Miriam E. Duncan, Fargo

Vincent D. Holmlund, Fargo

Grand Forks Central (10)

Rachel Craig, Grand Forks

Oliver T. Dalmi, Grand Forks

Daniel A. Hettich, Grand Forks

Aidan Fire, Grand Forks

William L. Lawson-Body, Grand Forks

Katherine Liberman, Larimore

Jack E. Peterson, Grand Forks

Mikayla E. Weiss, Grand Forks

Oliver D. Wolfe, Grand Forks

Gareth J. Wu, Grand Forks

Grand Forks Red River (2)

Aiden O. Krogh, Grand Forks

Joseph R. Votava, Grand Forks

Lakota (1)

Evan Halvorson, Lawton

Minot Our Redeemer’s Christian (1)

Jack T. Wolsky, Minot

Moorhead Park Christian (1)

Carter B. Aamodt, West Fargo

North Shore (1)

Bradyn T. Lenning, Plaza

Oakes (1)

Ryan Hermes, Oakes

Nicole Schmitz, Oakes

Rugby (1)

Melody C. Johnson, Rugby

South Heart (1)

Genavive R. Robbins, Dickinson

West Fargo High (1)

Ryan L. Orth, West Fargo