WKU News

Photo Credits (Picture at Left): 
Devin Davis, Koushik Devarakonda, Daniel Yan

Three Gatton Academy seniors learned recently they are candidates for the 2019 United States Presidential Scholars.

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

The 2019 candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholar from The Gatton Academy are:

• Devin Davis (Scott County High School), son of Darren and Wanda Davis, from Georgetown.
• Koushik Devarakonda (Larry A. Ryle High School), son Suresh and Padmaja Devarakonda, from Union.
• Daniel Yan (South Warren High School) son of Jun Yan and Huifang Sun, from Bowling Green.

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars’ review committee selects honored scholars annually based on their academic success, personal characteristics, leadership, and service activities, in addition to the quality and content of their essays. 

Each year, more than 4,000 candidates are identified for the component of the program that focuses on academic achievement and based on having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or the ACT.  Eligible students are U.S. citizens and legal permanent U.S. residents who will graduate or receive their high school diploma between January and August of the current program year and have taken the ACT or SAT assessment on or before October of the previous year.

“These three students are remarkable representatives of the vast talent found across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  They seek opportunities to challenge themselves and contribute to a variety of communities,” states Director of The Gatton Academy Dr. Lynette Breedlove.  “Kentucky’s commitment to providing educational opportunities for high ability students is to be applauded.”

From here, approximately 800 students will be named semifinalists, and up to 161 students will be recognized in May as Presidential Scholars.  The majority of the Scholars will be selected on the basis of broad academic achievement.  Approximately twenty students are selected on the basis of their academic and artistic scholarship in the visual arts, the performing arts or creative writing. Additionally, approximately twenty additional students will be selected on the basis of their ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

If a student is selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, they will be honored in Washington, D.C. in June.  During this trip, U.S. Presidential Scholars are guests of the U.S. Department of Education and the Commission and enjoy an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with government officials, educators, and other accomplished people.  To commemorate their achievement, the Scholars are awarded the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

For more information, visit the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

About The Gatton Academy: Established in 2007, The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first two-year residential STEM program for gifted and talented junior and seniors. The Gatton Academy’s students enroll as juniors and are full-time WKU students while pursuing their interests in advanced science, technology, engineering and mathematical careers. The Gatton Academy has been named to The Washington Post’s list of top-performing schools with elite students for nine consecutive years.