Naperville students named Presidential Scholars

Two Naperville students are the Illinois representatives on a list of 141 Presidential Scholars recognized for their excellence in academics or the arts.

High school seniors Siqi Liu of Naperville Central and Joseph A. Popelka of Benet Academy in Lisle have been selected for the award by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, the U.S. Department of Education announced Monday.

Presidential Scholars are chosen based on performance on the ACT and SAT college entrance exams or nominations from chief state school officers or through the National YoungArts Foundation's YoungArts competition. Academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school transcripts, community service, leadership and commitment to high ideals also are considered in choosing each year's winners.

The award recognizes one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and from U.S. families living abroad. Fifteen scholars are chosen at large and there are 20 named as U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

Presidential Scholars have been chosen since 1964.