Rockwall-Heath High School student named Presidential Scholar

One of 161 Students Across the Country

(ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX – May 16, 2017) The United States Department of Education recently announced the 53rd class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, including Christian Giadolor, a student from Rockwall-Heath High School, who is recognized as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He is one out of 161 nationwide and one out of eight from Texas chosen for this honor.

Christian is invited to attend the 2017 ceremony at the White House June 18, where he will receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.

“He’s a great kid,” said Tom Maglisceau, principal of Rockwall-Heath HS. “When he goes up to the White House later this year, he will likely be making decisions for how he’ll re-decorate the place when he’s president.”

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

Of the 3.5 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,100 candidates qualified for the 2017 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, through nominations made by Chief State School Officers, other partner recognition organizations or the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts™competition.

“I congratulate this year’s class of Presidential Scholars for their devotion to academic excellence and their parents and teachers who have guided them along the way,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “Today’s Presidential Scholars are tomorrow’s leaders, and I am confident they will continue to be shining examples as they enter the next phase of their academic careers.”

The 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education.

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored almost 7,500 of the nation’s top-performing students with the prestigious award given to honorees during an annual ceremony in Washington. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

A complete list of 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available at http://www.ed.gov/psp.

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