NEWS Walnut Valley Unified School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 880 S. Lemon Avenue
May 4, 2011 Walnut, CA 91789
Contact:
Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204
DBHS Senior Named U.S. Presidential Scholar
Congratulations to State Winner Brandon Sim!
DIAMOND BAR, CA--The U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, announced on Tuesday the selection of 141 outstanding high school seniors as the 2011 U.S. Presidential Scholars.
Diamond Bar High School senior Brandon Sim has been named to the elite group of 2011 honorees.
U.S. Presidential Scholars include only one young male and woman from each state, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, U.S. families living abroad, and 15 chosen at-large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts.
These students have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to school and community.
“Brandon Sim is the absolute symbol of Diamond Bar pride: talented, selfless, humble and giving,” said Principal Catherine Real. “We are incredibly proud of his achievements and even prouder to say that he is one of our own.”
He will attend Harvard University in the fall.
Sim said he was shocked and surprised after learning he had been considered for such a prestigious award.
“I am humbled that they would consider me as part of this group,” Sim said. “I am really excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to meeting all the other scholars.”
Brandon is truly a Superstar student! His major high school accomplishments include: Taking 16 AP and college courses, Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalist, US Physics and Biology Olympiad Semifinalist; US Chemistry Olympiad Honors Recipient. Six-time American Invitational Mathematics Exam Qualifier. Mathematics Honors Society and American Cancer Society for 4 years, current President in both clubs; FIRST Robotics Team for 2 years, current Captain; Science Olympiad Team for 4 years, Captain.
“Although this recognition is no surprise to those who know him, it is inspiring that our nation’s educational leaders recognize his current contributions as well as his potential for making a difference at an even larger scale in the future,” said Real.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington D.C., from June 18-21.
"The U.S. Presidential Scholars exemplify what dedication to achievement and setting high standards can symbolize for all youth," Duncan said. "The Department of Education congratulates these students on their artistic and academic accomplishments."
The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars appointed by the President selected the scholars 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.
For the past 47 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 6,000 of the nation's top-performing students. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,000 candidates qualified on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, or by nomination through the nationwide YoungArts™ competition conducted by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was created in 1964 to honor academic achievement. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts.
Since 1983, each Presidential Scholar has invited his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington, D.C., to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education and to participate in the recognition events.
Brandon has selected physics teacher Angela Jensvold to accompany him to the recognition events.
“She has been my teacher for the past three years and has been inspiring and helpful in helping me pursue the things that I am interested in,” he said. Jensvold is the advisor for the Science Olympiad and Science Bowl team. He is the team captain in both clubs.
“I feel that DBHS has been really important in doing everything I’ve accomplished and done. The sheer amount of opportunities, the teachers, faculty, Grade Level Coordinators, the principal, and other students are top notch. I am so glad our school will be getting recognized,” Sim said.