Rachel Doman '22 and Stephen Shin '22 have been recognized as semifinalists for the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

A review committee of educators selects approximately 800 semifinalists from nearly 4,000 candidates who were invited to apply to the program. Rachel and Stephen are two of the 20 students in Georgia to be recognized as semifinalists.

Candidates are invited to apply to the program based on the student's SAT or ACT score. They then go through a rigorous application process where they must submit candidacy materials, including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. Candidates are evaluated on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership, service, and other extracurricular activities, and an analysis of their essays.

Next month, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars will make the final selection of up to 161 Presidential Scholars who will receive national recognition and an invitation to an all-expenses-paid trip to the White House.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established to recognize and honor the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. For more than 57 years, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored more than 8,000 of the nation’s top-performing students with the prestigious award given to honorees during an annual ceremony in Washington, D.C.