Lu ’16 Selected as National Presidential Scholar
This summer, recent graduate Mandy Lu ’16 was named one of 160 American students awarded with a Presidential scholarship. Ellie Ward ’16 was named a semi-finalist. Twenty members of the class of 2016 were eligible to apply.
According to the Department of Education’s website, the U.S. Presidential Scholars program was created to “recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.” The selection process is rigorous, and the committee deems students most qualified based on their “academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities and an analysis of their essay.”
“Mandy is wonderful and smart. She definitely deserves this award.”
To be eligible, students must graduate high school between January and August of the program year, must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and must either be nominated by their Chief State School Officer, a partner recognition organization, score above a certain threshold on the SAT or ACT, show outstanding academic and artistic talent and are required to participate in the YoungArts program or show achievement in career and technical programs. Students who qualify are sent applications, which they are given the option to fill out.
Scholars receive a paid trip to Washington, D.C. the June of their awarded year and receive a commemorative medallion in a ceremony at the White House. The Presidential Scholars program is not a scholarship program, but is intended to recognize outstanding students in the United States. Lu was grateful to receive the prize. “It’s a great honor to be selected as a [Presidential] scholar to represent my country,” she said.
Lu found that the Exeter community encouraged her academic success and created a community filled with opportunity to pursue her interested. She credits the academic drive of the school as a tool which helped her find the success required to receive the Presidential scholarship.
The versatility offered by the Academy’s resources proved an asset to her. “Being a presidential scholar means doing well academically, but also being well-rounded and being involved in one’s community. As an Exonian, I have had access to wonderful and inspiring teachers on the academic front and vibrant club and volunteer opportunities,” she said.
Lu further credited Exeter for allowing her to pursue unique interests unavailable elsewhere. “For instance,” she said, “if I hadn’t attended Exeter, I never would have started learning Latin or Greek since they’re not offered in my home town, and wouldn’t have developed my love of classics.” Lu also credited her interest in and passion for computer science to the introductory course she took as a part of Exeter’s graduation requirements.
Lu found the trip to Washington, D.C. to accept her scholarship to be the most rewarding part of the experience. During this trip, she spent time with fellow scholars, went to the White House and toured sites of importance in the capital city. “The biggest impact for me was meeting all the other scholars in D.C. during the few days of programming for scholars around the ceremony,” she said.
Those who knew Lu during her time at the Academy were unsurprised to hear of her most recent success. Lu’s dormmate in Lamont Hall, Jade Moses ’16 said, “I wasn’t surprised when she told me. I knew it was something she was working towards, and she works really hard so I figured she could pull it off. That’s how awesome she is. I’m so proud of her!”
Jennifer Shang ’16 agreed with Moses. “Mandy is wonderful and smart. She definitely deserves this award,” Shang said.
Shang was quick to laud Lu for her hard work and subsequent, well-earned accomplishments. “She never failed to help others who were struggling in any subject that she could help in,” Shang said. “[Lu] is hardworking, but never forgets to have fun and have some time for herself.”