Redmond, Wash. –The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday that Monisha Gulabani, a senior at Eastlake High School in Sammamish, is one of 141 Presidential Scholars for 2012. Presidential Scholars are chosen for demonstrating outstanding academic achievements, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service and contributions to school and community. Presidential Scholars will be honored in Washington, D.C., on June 16, 2012.
Gulabani won the 2009 Trevor Price Award in the Sammi Award program. This award goes to one Sammamish youth whose initiative and caring sets an example for his/her peers. She also served as an intern for the Sammamish Review in 2011. In addition, Gulabani is co-president of Eastlake High School’s Junior Orthopedic Guild for Seattle Children’s Hospital. She has also been a committee chair for the Eastlake Relay for Life event for the past two years and is a committee chair for Eastlake’s Science Honor Society this year. Gulabani was also co-president of the Eastlake Debate team last year. Outside of school, she enjoys downhill ski racing with the Outdoors for All Foundation. Gulabani’s older sister, Anisha, was named a Presidential Scholar in 2008.
Each Presidential Scholar is asked to invite his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington to receive a Teacher Recognition Award and participate in the recognition events for the Presidential Scholars. Gulabani chose to recognize humanities teacher Rachelle Horner of Eastlake High School.
One male and one female scholar are chosen per state, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and from U.S. families living abroad. Another 15 at-large scholars and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts are also selected. The Commission on Presidential Scholars appointed by President Obama selects the scholars. Gulabani is the female scholar for the state of Washington.
Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,300 candidates qualified on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exam and through nominations made by chief State School Officers or the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts nationwide YoungArts™ competition.
The Presidential Scholars program was created in 1964 to honor academic achievement.
--Information from the Lake Washington School District
