Richland Two seniors named candidates for U.S Presidential Scholars Program
March 9, 2020
Seven academically gifted high school seniors have been selected as candidates for the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.
The students are Audrey Royall from Richland Northeast High School; Swetha Sekhar and Adrienne Luedicke from Blythewood High School, and Vamsi Gorrepati, Pranav Guntupalli, Jareer Imran, Pallavi Rao, Amal Verma and Alyssa Williams, from Spring Valley High School.
This honor is the latest in a long line of accomplishments for each student.
As the projected valedictorian at Richland Northeast High School, Royall has demonstrated exceptional academic abilities as she earned a perfect score on the English section of the ACT. An International Baccalaureate Diploma (RNHS’s academic magnet) candidate, she has perfected her pursuit to engage with individuals in an increasingly globalized, fast-changing world by developing interest in civic engagement. Royall is a member of Convergence Media (journalism) and Palmetto Center for the Arts (orchestra strings) magnet programs.
Swetha ranks number one in the senior class at Blythewood High School. She is part of Blythewood’s Honors Orchestra and the SC Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a member of Model United Nations, National Honors Society for Dance Arts, National Science Honors Society, National Social Studies Honors Society, National Beta Club and the Robotics Club.
Luedicke scored a perfect ACT score, a 1500 on the SAT, took Physics 211 at USC, and she is an AP Scholar with Distinction. She is ranked third in her class and scored a Platinum on the WIN Test. She has been a part of JROTC, served as academic team commander, and represented Blythewood High School at JCLC Leadership board with a rank of 2LT. She is part of the Robotics Club and the Rubiks Cube Club and academic clubs such as NSHS and NMHS Beta club.
Gorrepati is a senior at Spring Valley High School in the Discovery magnet program. He has done research on tailoring metal-organic frameworks to increase semiconductors’ efficiency. He is also a part of Circle of Friends, HOSA, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society and Key Club.
Guntupalli is a member of the Discovery Magnet program and has done research on the optimization of algal-based biofuels. He is a part of the National Honor Society, VEX Robotics team and Technology Student Association. In college, he plans on studying chemical engineering with an emphasis on Energy and the Environment.
Imran is a Discovery magnet program student and National Merit Scholarship finalist. He splits his time between cross country, track and field and Quiz Bowl, among other clubs. He is also the founder of Vikings for Humanity, a club dedicated to raising awareness and donations for the cause of refugees.
Rao is a member of the Discovery magnet program, and is currently serving as South Carolina State HOSA President. She is also a student body officer and Winter Days senior chair, leading the school’s largest student-run service project. Rao is president of Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), a member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society, and is Editor-in-Chief of the “Green & Gold” literary magazine.
Verma is a senior at Spring Valley High School and a National Merit Scholarship finalist. He is part of the Discovery Magnet program, Technology Student Association, Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society) and the National Honor Society.
Williams is a Discovery magnet student who enjoys computer science and engineering. She serves as the state Sergeant-at-Arms for the Technology Student Association and as an officer in the National Honor Society. Williams is also a member of the National Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), Science National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl and Rho Kappa (social studies honor society).
In mid-April, these candidates will learn if they are among the hundreds of students who will be named semifinalists. The U.S. Presidential Scholars will be announced in early May, and winners will be honored in Washington, D.C. Application to the program is by invitation only, and is based on students’ scores on the SAT or ACT exam, their nomination by a Chief State School Officer, or a nomination from one of the U.S. Department of Education’s partner recognition organizations. Students are selected based on broad academic achievement; academic and artistic scholarship in the visual arts, the performing arts or creative writing; or outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.
