Jazz Student Nominated For US Presidential Scholar
NOCCA Jazz Student Nominated For United States Presidential Scholar
Program Established To Recognize Most Distinguished Graduating High School Seniors Who Score Exceptionally On ACT or SAT
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) is proud to share the news that NOCCA Jazz student Elise Gonzalez (12th grade student also attending Benjamin Franklin High) has been nominated as a 2014 Candidate for the United States Presidential Scholar Program. Elise was selected for her scholarship at Benjamin Franklin High and test scores. As a talented jazz musician and electric bass player here at NOCCA, it is not surprising Elise also excels academically. According to ArtsforLA, an Arts Advocacy organization, young people who participate in the arts are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. Elise plans are confirmed already for next year, she plans to continue her studies post-secondary at Stanford University.
All graduating high school seniors who are citizens of the United States or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents and have scored exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT college admission test during the two-year window spanning September 2011 to October 2013 were automatically considered for participation. The U.S. Department of Education then looked at test records for the top 30 males and top 30 females in each state/jurisdiction. The combined file of scores from the top male examinees and top female examinees were then ranked from high to low in each state. The top 20 male examinees and top 20 female examinees became the candidates from each state.
In late March, approximately 500 semifinalists are chosen by an independent, national committee of educators convened by the Commission on Presidential Scholars. Between six and 20 semifinalists are identified for each state/jurisdiction by the review committee. The number of semifinalists identified per state/jurisdiction is based on a proportionate number of test takers for that state. In April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars makes the final selection of the 121 students. One young man and one young woman are chosen from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad. In addition, up to 15 students are chosen at large.