Greenwich High School senior Cynthia Chen was one of 161 students across the nation named United States Presidential Scholars.
Each year over 4,500 candidates are identified for the component of the program that focuses on academic achievement, based on having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or the ACT exams.
Eligible students are US citizens and legal permanent US residents graduating or receiving a diploma between January and August of the current program year, who have taken the SAT or ACT Assessment on or before the preceding October. This year three students were selected from the State of Connecticut as US Presidential Scholars, and eight students from Greenwich High School were initially eligible for semifinalist status.
“Cynthia Chen is an outstanding student and an even better person,” Greenwich High School Headmaster Mr. Ralph Mayo said. “In order to be selected for this great honor you need to be passionate about your studies, and an individual who is committed to making their community a better place for us all.”
Mayo added that Cynthia has the admiration of the entire educational community and it has been a great pleasure to have her as a member of the amazing Class of 2020.
“Being named a Presidential Scholar has shown me that my ideas and actions hold meaning to other people, which gives me confidence to continue pursuing the various initiatives which form my interests,” Cynthia said. “I want to keep on seeking ways to connect with others and work on current objectives to bring them to fruition. I’m very honored and grateful to now have access to a network of other scholars and figures, and I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, especially my teachers, peers, and other members of the Greenwich community that I am so proud to be a part of.”
“We couldn’t be more proud to have three young people from Connecticut receive one of the nation’s top honors for high school students, and I offer my congratulations to Cynthia, Brandon and Elizabeth on this accomplishment,” Governor Ned Lamont said in a release from the Connecticut State Dept of Education.
“They represent some of the very best of our state, and I applaud their perseverance and drive, which led to this national recognition.”