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Friday, May 04, 2007
CHICAGO, IL – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) today saluted the six high school students from Illinois who were named 2007 Presidential Scholars by the U.S. Department of Education this week.
The six high school students were among 141 outstanding high school seniors nationwide who will travel to Washington D.C. – along with their most inspiring teacher – on June 23 to be honored.
The Illinois honorees include:
- Derrick Cooper of Belleville, who attends Belleville Township High School West;
- Emily Disbrow of Wheaton, who attends Wheaton-Warrenville South High School;
- Ilana Goldberg of Highland Park, who attends Highland Park High School;
- Alexander Krey of Lake Forest, who attends Thacher School;
- Phoebe Rusch of Highland Park, who attends the Interlochen Arts Academy, and
- Mahesh Vidula of Naperville, who attends the Illinois Math and Science Academy.
The 141 Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, plus several selected at-large or for their excellence in the visual or performing arts. The students are chosen by a 27-member Commission on Presidential Scholars which was created by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. The selections are based on academic success, community involvement, essays and teacher evaluations. There is no cash award, but it is a prestigious recognition for the students.
“These six students are the best and the brightest of the Class of 2007, and Illinois is so proud of them,” said Andy Davis, ISAC Executive Director, whose agency has overseen the Illinois State Scholar Program since 1958.“We salute them, as well as their families, teachers and schools for this national recognition.”
Three of the 2007 Presidential Scholars were also honored as 2007 Illinois State Scholars by ISAC: Emily Disbrow, Ilana Goldberg and Mahesh Vidula.
This year, ISAC recognized 17,093 high school students from across the state as Illinois State Scholars. Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top ten percent of the state’s high school seniors from 897 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. As with the Presidential Scholars, the Illinois State Scholar Program carries with it no cash award, but students are encouraged to include it on applications for college admissions or scholarships.
Created in 1957, ISAC is the state’s central provider of college aid. The agency oversees the successful Monetary Award Program (MAP), and other scholarship, grant and loan programs. Last year, ISAC issued 185,000 grants totaling $400 million and guaranteed $1.24 billion in loans to 232,631 students. Its 529 prepaid tuition program - College Illinois! - has allowed Illinois families to prepay more than $1 billion in tuition and fees. For more information, visit www.collegezone.com.
Contact
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
100 W. Randolph Street, Ste. 3-200
Chicago, IL 60601
312-814-3679
About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State’s centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education. More information is available by calling toll-free 800.899.ISAC (4722) or visiting the agency’s Web site at www.collegezone.com.
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