OLYMPIA, Wash.-A Southridge student has been named a 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholar and a Southridge teacher is a Distinguished Teacher of the year.
Ashwin Joshi, a senior at Southridge, is one of five students from across Washington and one of only 161 nationwide named a Presidential Scholar.
“Washington’s students have worked hard and their accomplishments in academics, leadership, and service speak for themselves,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “I look forward to their success in the careers and pathways that they choose.”
Presidential Scholars demonstrate talent in career and technical education fields, the visual, creative and performing arts or on academic assessments, according to the program’s website.
After their selection as Presidential Scholar candidates, students complete essays and assessments and submit evaluations and transcripts for review, according to an OSPI press release.
A review committee then evaluates the candidates before the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects the students who will win the award.
Presidential Scholar candidates also get to nominate a teacher that has influenced them and their school community and Joshi nominated Southridge Calculus teacher Jannette Salisbury for the Distinguished Teacher honor.
2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Presidential Scholar Program and students will be honored with a medallion and take part in an online recognition program this summer.
