2023 US Presidential Scholars; 3 Wisconsin students named
MILWAUKEE - Three Wisconsin high school seniors are included in the 59th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars for 2023 – two of them from southeast Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin scholars include:
- Ananya Bhatt, Brookfield Central High School, Brookfield
- Ethan Mark Zentner, Nicolet High School, Glendale
- Saskatoon Robert Fuzz Damm, Medford Area Senior High School, Medford
Ananya Bhatt is wrapping up her senior year at Brookfield Central High School with a spring in her step.
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"My friend texted me yesterday, congrats Miss Presidential Scholar – and I was like ‘what?’ Their email went to my spam," Bhatt said.
Bhatt is one of two students in southeast Wisconsin to be named U.S. Presidential Scholars. Only 161 people across the country received this year's honor.
Ethan Mark Zentner; Ananya Bhatt
"I got a 35 on the ACT and a 1560 on the SAT. I guess I was one of the top in the state. That’s why they picked me," Bhatt said.
Each year, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.
Honorees get a presidential medallion and bragging rights.
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"Humans have been dreaming of flying cars forever," said 18-year-old Ethan Zentner.
Nicolet High School is where Zentner designed a hexacopter, his science fair project, and determination to get a perfect ACT score.
"On my 5th attempt I finally did," Zentner said. "The biggest struggle is just giving it your all once you find the thing you get the most meaning from."
For both Bhatt and Zentner, graduation is just weeks away, and then…
"I’m going to MIT to study aerospace engineering," Zentner said.
"I want to major in neuroscience," said Bhatt.
A news release says the 2023 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 U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education.
The Presidential Scholars Class of 2023 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer with an online recognition program. A complete list of 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available at http://www.ed.gov/psp.