All students are invited to participate in the Christopher Columbus Essay Contest. The title of the essay this year is: "Columbus and Lindbergh: A Journey Across the Atlantic". If you are interested in American History and would like more information about the essay, please see Mr. Guthas in the Counseling Office. There is not prize money for winning at the local level, but one national winner will receive $1,200 and a trip to Washington, D.C. The essay is due September 24, 2015

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.

For the general component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

• are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline (Students who were not U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents on the day they took SAT or ACT exam, or who requested that The College Board or ACT not release their scores to outside entities, should contact the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program at (319) 688-4345 to ensure their scores are considered in the determination of the candidate pool.);
• graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2016, the current program year; and
• score exceptionally well on either the SAT of the College Board or the ACT of the American College Testing Program, based on tests taken during the two-year window that begins in September, 2013 and runs through October, 2015, (for the recognition cycle concluding in June, 2016), nominated by their Chief State School Officer (CSSO) or nominated by one of our partner recognition organizations based on outstanding scholarship.

For the arts component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

• are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline;
• graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2016, the current program year;
• demonstrate academic achievement and talent in the visual, creative and performing arts; and
• participate in the National YoungArts Foundation's nationwide YoungArts program.

For the CTE component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

• are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline;
• graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2016, the current program year;
• demonstrate academic achievement in career and technical programs; and
• are nominated by their state's Chief State School Officer.

For complete details about this program, please visit http://www.ed.gov/psp. OCHS can nominate one student to attend. If you are interesting in being nominated after reviewing the website, please see your counselor by Friday, September 4.