Harriton HS Student Named 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalist

BRYN MAWR, PA — A Lower Merin School District student is one 723 students nationwide to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalist. Sang-O Park, of Haverford, and student at Harriton High School, will join 16 other Pennsylvania students and residents progressing to the final round of the prestigious competition.

The program was established in 1964 by an executive order from President Lyndon B. Johnson to recognize the nation's most distinguished high school seniors. Up to 161 students are recognized across the nation each year.

Students may apply to the program by invitation only, based on SAT or ACT scores or by nomination.

Around 5,100 students were identified as initial candidates in the program, and the 723 semifinalists were selected from that pool.

Other area students and residents recognized include:

• Nina R. Bernick , Wayne - Conestoga High School
• Christopher X. Yang, Lansdale - North Penn High School
• Felicia L. Zhu, Audubon - Episcopal Academy
• Piyush Pillarisetti, King Of Prussia - Germantown Friends School
• Panayiotis Vandris, Worcester - The Lawrenceville School
• Kail J. Yuan , Bryn Mawr - Radnor High School
• Rachana Mudipalli, Downingtown - Downingtown Stem Academy
• Victoria L. Pan , Downingtown - Downingtown High School -East Campus

For a full list of semifinalists, see here.

Story by Justin Heinze

Image via Shutterstock