Students make first cut for Presidential Scholars program

Pasha Nahass Five graduating seniors from Conejo Valley schools have been named among the 2,600 candidates in the 2006 Presidential Scholars Program.

Pasha Nahass of Agoura High School, Steven Y. Sun from Thousand Oaks High School, Bret A. Bumerts of Calabasas High School, Sean Chen from Oak Park High School, and Natalie H. Katz, a home schooled student from Westlake Village, were selected from nearly 2.8 million students throughout the United States.

The candidates were selected for their exceptional performance on either the College Board SAT or the ACT assessment.

Five hundred semi-finalists will be chosen in early April by a distinguished panel of educators who will review personal essays, self-assessments, extracurricular activities, school recommendations and school transcripts.

Nahass, who earned a perfect 1600 on the SAT in his junior year and took the newer version of the SAT just for fun, serves on the regional cabinet of the Junior Statesman of America, a debate and current events club, is president of a book club, speaks Farsi, plays the guitar, and serves the community through a variety of volunteer work.

Natalie Kat“I feel very honored to have become a candidate for this program,” Nahass said. He has applied to all the Ivy League colleges and all the UC schools, but when asked where he hopes to be admitted, he said, “Harvard, always.”

Sean Chen, an accomplished pianist, is the only candidate in the area chosen for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He was one of 160 students chosen to attend an arts week program in Miami during January, and played four piano pieces before a panel of judges. More than 6,500 students submitted an audition tape.

Academically, Chen is equally talented, with a grade point average of nearly 4.4, he said.

Chen’s accomplishments in music are exemplary. In addition to piano, he plays violin in the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra, the Conejo Concerto Orchestra and the New West Symphony. He has played piano for the Ventura College Orchestra.

“He loves to perform. He loves the music,” said Teri Chen, Sean’s mother. She added her son won a $3,000 scholarship at the festival.

Natalie Katz has been home schooled by her mother, Sandra, for the past 10 years. Having earned 2350 out of 2400 on the new SAT, which includes an essay, Katz chose to take four SAT II subject tests to demonstrate her academic prowess to colleges. She earned top grades in the biology, chemistry, math and English literature subject tests.

Sean Chen “I didn’t know (the Scholars program) existed until we got the letter,” Katz said. “It’s been kind of overwhelming.”

Katz has applied to USC, Stanford and six of the UC schools.

“I just love everything—English literature, history, economics—now journalism,” Katz said.

As for home schooling, Katz said, “It’s always been really fun, really freeing.” She completed the foreign language requirements by learning Hebrew through her religious education classes.

Sandra Katz said her daughter has played the piano for 12 years, dances and is very involved in community activities. “She’s too busy for her own good,” she said.

“I didn’t really expect it, so it’s pretty cool,” said Sun of the honor. “I don’t like to set high expectations, so everything is a surprise.”

Steven Sun doesn’t feel the need to meet the expectations of others—he achieves his own high goals. He earned 2350 on the SAT and doesn’t attend advanced placement classes at his school because he’s a self learner.

Bret Bumerts “I just show up and take the test,” Sun said.

So far, his self-teaching methods have been very successful. Sun earned top test scores in biology, European history, and even physics that has no equivalent class at local schools.

Sun is equally dedicated to his extracurricular activities. He’s a member of the school marching band, the academic decathlon team and the mock trial team.

With a grade point average of 4.5, Sun will undoubtedly have his pick of colleges, which include the Ivy League schools, California Institute of Technology in San Diego, UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara.

Bret Bumerts initially thought the letter was a gimmick by a company trying to make some money. “I didn’t really expect anything like this,” he said. Now that I know it’s a legitimate award, it’s pretty cool to be part of it.”

Bumerts, like his fellow candidates, is an exceptional student with a GPA of 4.23 and perfect scores on the math and verbal sections of the SAT.

Bumerts’ top college choices are Duke University and Penn State, where he plans on studying math and science. A well-rounded studentBumerts is the captain of the varsity soccer team at his school, tutors children in math and science, and works as a camp counselor each summer. He also referees soccer games for a local youth league.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president to honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Inclusion in the program is considered by educators as one of the highest honors.

In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts.

Each year, up to 141 students, including 20 arts scholars, are chosen by the Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of 32 eminent citizens appointed by the president. One young man and woman are chosen from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. students living abroad. An additional 15 students-at-large and up to 20 students from the creative and performing arts are also chosen.

The U.S. Department of Education will announce the scholars in May.

The final group of scholars will be invited to Washington, D.C. for several days in June to receive the Presidential Scholars medallion at a recognition ceremony and to participate in events and activities with their elected representatives, educators and other leading public figures.

For more information on the Presidential Scholars program, visit www.ed.gov/programs/psp.