Benjamin Franklin High School Senior Named Presidential Scholar

 Benjamin Franklin Senior High School is pleased to announce that senior William J.  McGrew has been named to the 49th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars.  McGrew is one of 141 high school seniors nationwide recognized for their accomplishments in academics or the arts. McGrew joined Aidaana U. Amanbekova of Mount Carmel Academy in this honor.
 
       
 "The Franklin family is so proud of Will's accomplishments and his commitment to excellence," said Principal Timothy Rusnak.  "He is an extraordinary young man who exemplifies the capacity for greatness in our nation's young people."

William  named Franklin College Counselor Beatrice Flair as his most influential teacher.

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by President Obama, selects honored scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,300 candidates qualified for the 2013 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, and through nominations made by Chief State School Officers or the National YoungArts Foundation's nationwide YoungArts™ competition.

The 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored more than 6,000 of the nation's top-performing students with the prestigious award given to honorees during the annual ceremony in D.C. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts.

The 2013 ceremony will be held June 16, when each honoree will receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.

Benjamin Franklin High School, located on the University of New Orleans campus, was founded in 1957, its stated mission, to prepare students of high academic achievement to be successful in life. Franklin has been consistently ranked as a “top public high school in the nation” by U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek and Business Week magazines and has received the highest School Performance Score in Louisiana, making it the #1 public school in the state again this year.

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