February 2, 2016
JACKSON, Miss. – Four students at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) have qualified as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholar Award, which recognizes the most distinguished graduating seniors in the nation.
Each year, up to 161 students are chosen from among outstanding graduating seniors to become U.S. Presidential scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school seniors. The following MSMS students have been notified of their selection as candidates:
- Dauttatreyo (Wrishi) Bandyopadhyay of Starkville
- Nathan Barlow of Starkville
- Jason Necaise of Ridgeland
- Meilun Zhou of Oak Grove
Dr. Germain McConnell, MSMS executive director, thanked all of the MSMS faculty and staff for their commitment to the students of the state.
“We celebrate this success with the home schools of Wrishi (Starkville Academy), Nathan (Starkville High), Jason (Ridgeland), and Meilun (Oak Grove), realizing that we are an extension of those schools and that they have played a significant role in the development of these students. Though I am confident that Wrishi, Nathan, Jason, and Meilun would have been successful even if they continued at their home schools, MSMS, as it has done for over 25 years, continues to provide a living and learning environment for students like these to reach their full potential,” McConnell said.
Scholars are chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas – academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement in school and the community – and represent excellence in education. They are invited to Washington, D.C. in June to participate in the National Recognition Program, which includes the presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a White House-sponsored ceremony.
The students will now begin the process of submitting materials to be eligible for selection as one of about 800 semifinalists and ultimately a scholar.
“The selection of these students as candidates proves that Mississippi’s children are as talented and capable as students in any other state. We know these students will represent Mississippi well now and in the future,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education.
Cutline: Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science students, from left, are Dauttatreyo (Wrishi) Bandyopadhyay, Meilun Zhou, Nathan Barlow, and Jason Necaise.
A complete list of scholar candidates from other districts around the state, as published by the U.S. Department of Education, are listed below:
MS - Belden - James A. Grant, Tupelo High School
MS - Brandon - Emily A. Kolb, Brandon High School
MS - Brandon - Jordan O. Watts, Northwest Rankin High School
MS - Cleveland - Chelsea Boone, Cleveland High School
MS - Cleveland - Heather Bouse, Cleveland High School
MS - Cleveland - Jasmine Sheppard, Cleveland High School
MS - Clinton - Simran Singh, Clinton High School
MS - Columbus - Dauttatreyo Bandyopadhyay, Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science
MS - Corinth - Emma Knight, Corinth High School
MS - Florence - Wesley Evans, Florence High School
MS - Glen - Lauren H. McCree’s, Alcorn Central High School
MS - Greenwood - Christina Ayegbaroju, Greenwood High School
MS - Greenwood - Kamron Daniels, Greenwood High School
MS - Gulfport - Joseph A. Layton, West Harrison High School
MS - Gulfport - Christian A. Manganti, West Harrison High School
MS - Hattiesburg - Meilun Zhou, Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science
MS - Hernando - Madison A. Shidler, Lewisburg High School
MS - Long Beach - Anna DeStefano, Long Beach High School
MS - Long Beach - Ian Taylor, Pass Christian High School
MS - Louin - Zavan Brown, Bay Springs High School
MS - Madison - James M. Asbill, Madison Central High School
MS - Madison - Summer N. Caraway, Madison Central High School
MS - Madison - Rachel Crowder, Madison Central High School
MS - Madison - [**] Donald Davis, Germantown High School
MS - Madison - Katie L. King, Madison Central High School
MS - Madison - Branden L. Livingston, Madison Central High School
MS - Madison - Amye F. McDonald, Madison Central High School
MS - Madison - Jessica Meyer, Germantown High School
MS - Madison - Warren Wheeler, Madison Central High School
MS - Madison - Payton Williams, Madison Central High School
MS - Marks - Kaitlyn Williams, Madison S. Palmer High School
MS - McLain - [**] Caitlyn Penton, Greene County High School
MS - Ocean Springs - Sally R. Boswell, Ocean Springs High School
MS - Ocean Springs - Jessica C. Leonard, Ocean Springs High School
MS - Ocean Springs - Sunna I. Savani, Ocean Springs High School
MS - Olive Branch - Sarah E. Barch, Desoto Central High School
MS - Oxford - Crayton L. Bowie, Oxford High School
MS - Oxford - Lee M. Brewer, Oxford High School
MS - Oxford - Kayla A. Owens, Oxford High School
MS - Petal - Margaux B. Huff, Petal High School
MS - Ridgeland - Jason T. Necaise, Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science
MS - Sledge - KeDarious Veal, Madison S. Palmer High School
MS - Southaven - Zachary Goodrow, Southaven High School
MS - Starkville - Nathaniel A. Barlow, Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science
MS - Starkville - Jacob N. Easley, Starkville High School
MS - Starkville - Tanzim Hassan, Starkville High School
MS - Vardaman - John Gillespie, Vardaman High School
MS - Walls - Jason Michael Tomasi, Lake Cormorant High School
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519