NASHUA – Four seniors from the Academy for Science and Design Charter School (ASD), a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School, were named as some of the approximately 4,000 candidates in the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program in an announcement made by the U.S. Department of Education on January 21, 2021. The candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2021. The students are Jardine Allen, Alison Ryckman and Matthew Zoerb of Nashua and Timothy Bilik of Milford. ASD Extended Learning Opportunities Coordinator Amy Bewley shares, “The Presidential Scholar Award is one of the greatest honors a graduating high school senior can earn. These four young adults are ready to take on higher education with a sense of curiosity, passion, creativity, and tremendous work ethic. Our ASD family is incredibly proud of these students and we have the highest hopes for their futures as STEM innovators, leaders and compassionate members of a global society.”

Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, now in its 57th year, is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership, and service to school and community. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students demonstrating exceptional scholarship and talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was expanded once again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical fields. Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from among that year’s senior class, representing excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth.

A distinguished panel of educators will review these submissions and select 600 semifinalists.

Serving as both a public, open-enrollment middle/high school with a STEM-specialty focus, the success of the Academy for Science and Design is based on its commitment to engage a diversity of student learners at both of these levels through an exemplary structure for broadening student access to STEM-focused learning opportunities. Accordingly, ASD’s program design is focused on providing early exposure to opportunities in STEM that younger students may be unaware of, and then encouraging and supporting those students as they pursue a highly personalized pathway to a specialized STEM field in high school.

The Academy for Science and Design is actively seeking to partner with local companies and businesses for student-centered initiatives such as internships, financial donations, and/or industry professionals to get involved in the school’s program. More information can be found on ASD’s website at www.asdnh.org, or email Extended Learning Opportunities Coordinator Amy.Bewley@asdnh.org. For more information about the U.S. Presidential Scholars program, please visit www.ed.gov/psp.