A senior at Marianas Baptist Academy will be competing with students across the U.S. for the prestigious 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.<\/p>\n
Jessica Im Lee is the only candidate from the CNMI selected for the program under the U.S. Department of Education.<\/p>\n
Established in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program aims to recognize and honor some of the nation\u2019s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to 141 students are named as presidential scholars, one of the country\u2019s highest honors for high school students. Majority of the scholars are selected based on broad academic achievement while a number are selected on the basis of academic and artistic scholarship in the visual arts, the performing arts, or creative writing.<\/p>\n
A review committee composed of experienced individuals in secondary and postsecondary education will trim the pool down to 560 semifinalists.<\/p>\n
The commission on presidential scholars will then select up to 121 academic scholars and up to 20 arts scholars in April. Those chosen will be honored for their accomplishments and will meet with government officials and educators, among others, during National Recognition Week in Washington, D.C. in June.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really happy when I found out about it,\u201d said Lee, 17, who was informed about being selected for the program when she received the mail Monday. <\/p>\n
Lee, who arrived on island when she was in third grade, has been joining various competitions in the CNMI such as Math Court and National Forensic League. She plans to attend college in the U.S. mainland this fall and study international relations. \u201cAs I was living here and when I experienced going to the U.S. for some competitions, I realized that there\u2019s a bigger part so I wanted to experience more cultures and study about them and what\u2019s outside of Saipan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee has already been accepted to Georgetown University, University of Chicago, and Boston College Honors Program and she is still waiting for acceptance to several other Ivy League schools.<\/p>\n
The daughter of Jung Hye Lee and the late Yong Jin Lee, the younger Lee said she is excited yet hesitant to go to college \u201cbecause my mom won\u2019t be living with me and I would have to be there alone. I have my sister there. She\u2019s the only one there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee gave credit to MBA principal Ramiro H. Trinidad, her Algebra teacher during 7th and 8th grades, and all her other teachers who have helped her in her studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t have done this without them,\u201d she told Saipan Tribune. \u201cAll the things they taught me, that\u2019s how I got good grades.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trinidad said they have had several students who were previously chosen as program candidates, given the school\u2019s \u201cvery rigid and demanding\u201d training for students to excel in their fields.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe teachers are dedicated and committed. Students expect that they\u2019ll be accepted to good universities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Trinidad described Lee as a \u201cvery eloquent and fluent speaker, very dedicated, and a good leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s an outstanding student\u2014one of the few in my career as an educator. I\u2019m thankful that MBA students always bring honor to the academy,\u201d added Trinidad.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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