LT Presidential Scholar Semifinalist

Lyons Township High School graduating senior Madeline Bernstein of LaGrange, has been named one of approximately 565 semifinalists and is advancing to the final round of the 2015 U.S. Presidential Scholars competition. The semifinalists were selected from more than 4,300 candidates on the basis of superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character, and involvement in community and school activities.

Final selection of the Scholars will be made by the Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of citizens appointed by the President, and will be announced later this month. The Commission will select one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. students living abroad; up to 20 students representing the visual, literary and performing arts; and 15 students at-large.

Scholars will be invited to Washington, D.C., for several days in June to receive the Presidential Scholars medallion at a recognition ceremony and to participate in various activities and held in their honor.

Madeline is a semifinalist in the program, initially selected as a candidate for her exceptional performance on the College Board SAT and the ACT Assessment. Semifinalists were chosen by a panel of distinguished educators after a review of students’ essays, self-assessments, activities, school recommendations, and school transcripts.

Straight As and the top score on the ACT not doubt helped secure candidacy in the Scholar competition. However, Bernstein is a very well-rounded student, artist and athlete. She was recently named a silver medalist in the National Scholastic Art Awards in the mixed media category. She is captain of Science Olympiad and member of Math Team and National Honor Society. She was a contributor of LT’s literary magazine, Menagerie. She runs year-round on LT’s cross-country and track teams. She also founded LT’s, Girls in Engineering, Math and Science (GEMS) Club, to encourage girls at LT and in the associate middle schools to pursue interests in STEM fields. Last summer, she interned at Fermilab and tutored junior high math students at Park Junior High. Outside of school, she spends most of her free time with friends and family. She will attend Harvard next fall and plans to major in physics or math.