Seven other students named semifinalists

TOPEKA — Two Kansas students have been named 2018 U.S. Presidential Scholars by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.

There were nine Kansas students selected as semifinalists for the 2018 Presidential Scholars Program. From that list, two students were named Presidential Scholars. 

The two Kansas students named Presidential Scholars are Gabriel J. Gress, a student at Blue Valley High School, Blue Valley Unified School District 229, and Neeharika Kothapalli, a student at Blue Valley West High School, Blue Valley USD 229.

Gress and Kothapalli have been invited to the National Recognition Program in June in Washington, D.C.

The scholars demonstrated leadership, scholarship, contribution to school and community and outstanding accomplishments in the arts, sciences, humanities and other fields of interest. Gress and Kothapalli were all recommended for Scholar in the Arts awards.

Three of the nine Kansas Presidential Scholars Program semifinalists were recommended for the Career and Technical Education Scholar award. They are:
•    Jessica Brynds, of Cherokee, who attends Girard High School, Girard USD 248.
•    Lauren Mitchell, of Newton, who attends Newton High School, Newton USD 373.
•    Scuyler Zenger, of Washington, who attends Washington County High School, Washington County USD 108.

The remaining four Kansas Presidential Scholars Program semifinalists were recommended for the Arts Scholar Award. They are:
•    Chloe I. Ching, of Overland Park, who attends Blue Valley Northwest High School, Blue Valley USD 229.
•    Grace K. Chisholm, of Fairway, who attends Shawnee Mission East High School, Shawnee Mission USD 512.
•    Shulammite Lim, of Olathe, who attends Olathe North High School, Olathe USD 233.
•    Alexander J. Thill, of Overland Park, who attends Blue Valley Northwest High School, Blue Valley USD 229.

A complete list of the 2018 Scholars are available at www.ed.gov/psp.