Divya Shah: Presidential Scholar and Clarkstown South High School Valedictorian

Divya Shah earned the highest grade point average of all her classmates at Clarkstown South High School over the course of her high school career. That led to her selection as valedictorian for the Class of 2011. 

Her school grades plus her score on the SAT and extra-curricular activities resulted in her being named one of 141 Presidential Scholars. Presidential Scholars are students from across the country who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to school and community.

The West Nyack resident is appreciative of the recognition she is receiving both nationally and locally and thankful for those who have helped her in school.

"First of all sheer gratitude to everyone that's here," says Shah. "You don't achieve something like this on your own."

She plans to study pre-med at Harvard with concentrations in psychology and brain behavior and is considering attending medical school.

She acknowledges her outstanding grades have brought her a lot of attention but points out she has other interests.

"All of these things I would truly like to clarify don't define me," says Shah. "I try to go out of my way to define myself in the community and to sort of give back to people at all times. It's all great but I try to be remembered for other things as well."

Shah's activities beyond the classroom are diverse. The 17-year-old has played varsity tennis and earned the Girl Scouts' Gold Award, the organization's highest and most prestigious award. Her project at Germonds Park in West Nyack involved planting with younger girl scouts and teaching them about gardening.

She is a member of the Junior State of America and has played piano since age six. Shah works as an assistant art teacher with young children at an art and design studio.   

Shah is one of five New York State students named a Presidential Scholar and will attend special ceremonies in Washington D.C. from June 18 through June 21. She will joined by her Honors and Advanced Placement Chemistry Teacher Jonathan Wedvik.

Each Presidential Scholar invites their most inspiring and challenging teacher to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education. Along with Shah, two other Clarkstown South students were qualified to apply to the Presidential Scholar program based on their SAT or ACT scores. 

When Shah returns she will have just a few days before her high school graduation on Thursday, June 23. She will deliver a speech along with Co-Salutatorians Alyssa Bosso of New City and Rebecca Chandler of Nanuet. The three of them will lead their 400 plus classmates into the commencement ceremony.

Between 97% and 98% of the graduating seniors will be attending a four- or two-year college or technical school. The high school currently has 1,556 students.  

Clarkstown South Principal James Vitale is impressed by the three senior class representatives. 

"The quality of the work they do for all their teachers is consistent," says Vitale.

The 141 U.S. Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts. They were chosen from more than 3,000 candidates who qualified on the basis of their 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.