Kate Davis Named 2009 Presidential Scholar of the Arts
May 19, 2009 by Jim
Kate Davis Named 2009 Presidential Scholar of the Arts
FOR RELEASE Media Contact: David Thomas
May 4, 2009 202-401-1579
Program Contact: Melissa Apostolides
202-205-0512
KATHRYN DAVIS of WEST LINN, OR, NAMED 2009 PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced the selection of Kathryn L. Davis of West Linn, Oregon, who attends West Linn High School in West Linn, as a 2009 Presidential Scholar.
Davis is one of 141 outstanding American high school seniors that have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and service at school and in their community. The Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington, D.C., from June 20 to 24.
“Every year for nearly half a century we've been honoring America's best and brightest students and every year they continue to make outstanding contributions to society while reaching milestones in their academic pursuits," Duncan said. "This year's Presidential Scholars continue that trend. They are shining examples of excellence in academics and in the arts and are role models that all students should emulate.”
Growing up as a classical violinist, Kate has worked through a variety of musical styles since age 5. However, when relocated to the Pacific Northwest 8 years ago, she developed two new passions, coffee and jazz. From then on, the upright bass and voice became her primary musical outlet. Nurtured by the supportive music community in Portland Ore, she was able to satisfy her hunger to learn and perform. Over the past few years Kate has earned some acclaim with her jazz bass and vocals. She was named a “youngARTS” silver winner, Downbeat Student Award winner, and was selected to participate in the Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony, and the Grammy Jazz Ensemble. Besides music, Kate enjoys other forms of the arts, reading, espresso, shopping, and spending time with friends.
The 141 Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts. A 29-member Commission on Presidential Scholars appointed by the President selected the Scholars based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.
For the past 45 years, this prestigious program has honored over 6,000 of the nation's top-performing students. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,000 candidates qualified on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, or by nomination through the nationwide youngARTS™ competition conducted by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.
The Presidential Scholars program was created in 1964 to honor academic achievement. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts.
Since 1983, each Presidential Scholar has invited his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington, D.C. to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education and to participate in the recognition events.
The teacher chosen for recognition by Davis was Jeffery Cumpston, of Harare, Zimbabwe.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: A complete list of 2009 Presidential Scholars is available at http://www.ed.gov/programs/psp/awards.html