Three Idaho high school seniors are among 161 students named as 2020 Presidential Scholars, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced Thursday.
Students qualify for the recognition through high performance on SAT or ACT test, or nomination by their state’s education chief. One male and female candidate are selected from each state based on academic success, essays, transcripts, leadership and community service.
This year’s Idaho recipients are:
- Blaine Dillingham, Timberline High School, Boise.
- Zoe Simon, Wood River High School, Hailey.
- Jieyan Wang, Moscow High School, Moscow. Wang was recognized as one of only 20 presidential scholars in the Arts.
“Generally we have two presidential scholars from Idaho named each year, but it’s wonderful that a third has been selected for excellence in the arts,” state superintendent Sherri Ybarra said in a news release.
“These exemplary young people have excelled inside the classroom and out,” DeVos said in a news release. “While they are facing unprecedented challenges as they graduate from high school into a world that looks much different than it did just a few months ago, their determination, resilience, and commitment to excellence will serve them well as they pursue their next steps.”
Typically, presidential scholars go to Washington, D.C., for a national ceremony, but that event has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. An online program will be held instead.
See, Tell, Now! tipline launches poster contest
See, Tell, Now!, a student threat reporting tipline coordinated by the Idaho Office of School Safety and Security, is launching a poster contest for students in grades K-12.
The tipline is open to students in all schools across Idaho, and is a resource for students to report circumstances or incidents that concern them. Students can send tips through a phone app, a hotline at 1-888-593-2tel or at seetellnow.org.
The tipline is available 24/7 and it passes tips along to schools, law enforcement officers or mental health practitioners for a quick response.
Students interested in the contest can design a hand-drawn poster for the tipline or a computer-generated poster.
Four contest winners, in different age groups, will win $50 Amazon gift cards.
Submissions are due by noon Wednesday. Work should be submitted to [email protected] and include a student name, student contact information and city and school information.
Potlatch teachers get technology grant
Teachers at a North Idaho school district received a $2,000 grant for computer equipment, through an Idaho-based engineering firm.
The grant furnished teachers in the Potlatch School District with video equipment and online learning resources.
The grant comes from Power Engineers, headquartered in Hailey. The firm has an office in Clarkston, Wash., not far from Potlatch.
“The donation is part of a larger effort we’re working on to direct funds to schools in need across the country to help with COVID-19 relief,” Power spokeswoman Kate Wutz said.
