SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -
Some of Vermont's best and brightest high school students have good reason to celebrate-- 46 seniors from across the state have been named U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates. The honor recognizes academic excellence and talents in the visual, creative and performing arts.
This year's list is made up of kids from 25 public and private high schools across the state.
"Really surprised, really happy. I mean, it's an honor and I am glad the hard work I put in paid off," said Rebecca Mahany, a finalist from Rice Memorial High School.
"I think it's curiosity and I think it is an ability to think critically and in ways that just come more naturally to them than it might be for other students," said Greg LaCroix, a guidance counselor at Rice.
Up to 141 students from across the country will be selected as Presidential Scholars. Winners will be announced in May.
Here is the list of finalists from Vermont:
VT ‐ Arlington ‐ Eliza R. Farley, Berkshire School
VT ‐ Brattleboro ‐ Sam A. Gartenstein, Brattleboro Union High School
VT ‐ Brattleboro ‐ Ansel Notman‐Wilmerdi, Leland & Gray Union High Sch
VT ‐ Bristol ‐ Isabel C. Mcgrory‐Klyza, Mount Abraham Union High School
VT ‐ Bristol ‐ Forrest B. Wallace, Mount Abraham Union High School
VT ‐ Burlington ‐ Quincy P. Cundiff‐Kopplin, Burlington High School
VT ‐ Burlington ‐ Rebecca L. Mahany, Rice Memorial High School
VT ‐ Charlotte ‐ Carolyn P. Woodruff, Champlain Valley Union High School
VT ‐ Cornwall ‐ Malcolm S. Groves, Middlebury Union High School
VT ‐ Danby ‐ Julia C. Lees, The Long Trail School
VT ‐ Dorset ‐ Amelia H. Salsgiver, Burr and Burton Seminary
VT ‐ East Calais ‐ Folena J. De Geus, U‐32 Junior/Senior High School
VT ‐ Essex ‐ Sossina R. Gutema, Essex High School
VT ‐ Essex Jct ‐ Lee D. Murphy, Essex High School
VT ‐ Essex Junction ‐ Sarah B. Bigelow, Essex High School
VT ‐ Essex Junction ‐ Hillary E. Danis, Essex High School
VT ‐ Essex Junction ‐ Everett O'Malley, Essex High School
VT ‐ Essex Junction ‐ Timothy F. Rizvanov, Essex High School
VT ‐ Jericho ‐ Joseph F. Adkisson, Mount Mansfield Union High School
VT ‐ Jericho ‐ Jeremy B. Carter, Mount Mansfield Union High School
VT ‐ Jericho ‐ Sean W. O'Connor, Mount Mansfield Union High School
VT ‐ Middlebury ‐ David R. Burt, Middlebury Union High School
VT ‐ Middlebury ‐ Emma L. Craven‐Matthews, Middlebury Union High School
VT ‐ Middlebury ‐ Nora E. Mclaughlin, Middlebury Union High School
VT ‐ Montpelier ‐ Julia H. Gilbert, Montpelier High School
VT ‐ Norwich ‐ Gwynn G. Lyons, Hanover High School
VT ‐ Norwich ‐ Samuel J. Merrens, Hanover High School
VT ‐ Norwich ‐ Melanie S. Subbiah, Hanover High School
VT ‐ Peacham ‐ David R. Fickes, St. Johnsbury Academy
VT ‐ Plainfield ‐ Clare H. Neal, St. Johnsbury Academy
VT ‐ Richmond ‐ Michael J. Lawler, Mount Mansfield Union High School
VT ‐ Rutland ‐ Josh J. Wight, Rutland High School
VT ‐ Saint Albans ‐ Ashleigh N. Peterson, Bellows Free Academy
VT ‐ South Burlington ‐ Owen P. Lyons, Rice Memorial High School
VT ‐ South Burlington ‐ Avni Nahar, South Burlington High School
VT ‐ South Burlington ‐ Aleksandra K. Zakrzewska, South Burlington High School
VT ‐ South Burlington ‐ Eliza J. Alvarez, South Burlington High School
VT ‐ South Burlington ‐ William C. Gregoire, South Burlington High School
VT ‐ South Burlington ‐ Katherine R. Merrick, South Burlington High School
VT ‐ South Royalton ‐ Abigail J. Dutton, Sharon Academy
VT ‐ St George ‐ Monica L. Barker, Burlington High School
VT ‐ Warren ‐ Henry C. Anderson, Green Mountain Valley School
VT ‐ Waterville ‐ Lucy E. Rogers, Lamoille Union High School
VT ‐ Williston ‐ Andrea A. Joseph, Champlain Valley Union High School
VT ‐ Williston ‐ Jonathan I. Liebman, Champlain Valley Union High School
VT ‐ Williston ‐ Conor M. Mcquiston, Champlain Valley Union High School
Rebecca Mahany
