Senior Stone Meng has been named a candidate for the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program through achieving excellence in academics, arts, leadership, character, and school activities. This distinction is only given to 5,000 candidates in the country.

Students are selected from initially achieving a high SAT or ACT score, broad academic achievement, through YoungArts, or through excellence in career and technical education, or selective nominations through an organization.

Meng qualified through receiving a 1600 on his SAT, a perfect score. The next step for Meng is applying to become a semifinalist.

“I have already applied and submitted a form, and now I’m waiting to hear a reply,” Meng said.

The application process includes getting a teacher recommendation, but applicants must also nominate one of their teachers to complete their application.

“I nominated Ms. Hamel because she’s my robotics mentor, and she inspired me a lot,” Meng said.

Semifinalists will be announced mid April and Scholars in May, and the 600 semifinalists will be reviewed for becoming finalists where they would be awarded with a Presidential Scholars Medallion.

Meng will attend Johns Hopkins University and will study biomedical engineering.