For Immediate Release:   May 23, 2008

 

BPS Student Named 2008 Presidential Scholar

Kyla Horn One of Only Five Florida Students Honored

 

VIERA—Kyla D. Horn, a student at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School, has been named a 2008 Presidential Scholar by the U.S. Department of Education. Horn is one of 139 outstanding high school seniors in the U.S, and one of only five in Florida. The students have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship and service to their schools and communities. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington D.C., from June 21-24.

“We congratulate Ms. Horn on this tremendous accomplishment,” said Superintendent Dr. Richard A. DiPatri. “She is a fine example of some of the best and brightest students we are fortunate to have the privilege to educate in Brevard.”

Valedictorian Horn participates in her school’s International Baccalaureate program and has won many regional, state and national awards for scientific research, Future Problem Solving, and creative writing. She has interned at Massachusetts General Hospital and participated in summer science programs at MIT and Stanford University. Horn earned the distinction of National Semifinalist in both the Biology and Chemistry Olympiads. She captained the Brevard Science Bowl Team and the Brevard All-Star Academic Team, and serves as president of Cocoa Beach’s Beta Club. She is a National AP Scholar and 2008 National Merit Scholar.

The 139 Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad. This also includes 15 chosen at-large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts. A 29-member Commission on Presidential Scholars appointed by President Bush selected the scholars based on their academic success, artistic excellence, community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

The Presidential Scholars program was created in 1964 to honor academic achievement and was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. This prestigious program has honored more than 5,000 of the nation's top students.

Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,000 candidates qualified to be a Presidential Scholar on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, or by nomination through the nationwide youngARTS™ competition conducted by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.

Since 1983, each Presidential Scholar has had the opportunity to select his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington, D.C., to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education and to participate in the recognition events.

           

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