Seniors Clara Kim, Julia Scholzman and Meg Weisman have been named among the country’s 2,600 candidates in the 2005 Presidential Scholars Program. The candidates were selected from nearly 2.8 million students expected to graduate from high school in 2005.

Now in its 41st year, inclusion in the Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed on graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities. Academic achievement is based on SAT or ACT scores as well as other factors. The nominations of Clara and Julia rested on their superior test scores; Meg was nominated for the honor by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts because of her achievement and previous honors as a fiction writer.

Semi-finalists will be announced in May. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of 32 eminent citizens appointed by the President, will make the final selection of scholars—up to 121 academic scholars and up to 20 arts scholars—who will be invited to a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in June.