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Students named Presidential Scholars Candidates

3/25/2019

Five Richland School District Two seniors have been named candidates for the prestigious 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholars program.

The students are: Katherine Brook and Mary G. Boyce (Richland Northeast High School) and Elizabeth Dillon, Isak Jatoi and Gillian Patton (Spring Valley High School).

Katherine S. Brook is an outstanding student who is a member of the National Honors Society and the Palmetto Center for the Arts (PCA) Symphonic Band. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and has aspirations of operating a baking business, teaching music and becoming an accountant (CPA).

Mary “Gracie” Boyce is ranked No. 1 in her class and is a semifinalist for the AP Merit award. She scored a 36, the highest possible, on the ACT. Gracie is an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate and a member of the National Honors Society. She is a member of the Palmetto Center for the Arts (violin 1st seat) and leader in the Richland Northeast High Convergence Media program where she has served as editor in chief, managing editor and copy editor.

Elizabeth Dillon is a senior in the Discovery magnet program and a National Merit finalist. She plays French horn in the Symphonic Band. She spends her free time reading, tutoring and being involved with her church. While she enjoys all subjects, she plans to study English and Latin in college.

Isak Jatoi is a senior in the Discovery magnet program and a National Merit finalist. He is the founder and president of the Spring Valley Quiz Bowl team, which has won multiple tournaments throughout South Carolina and has qualified for the High School National Championship Tournament in Atlanta, on May 24–26, 2019. Outside of school, he can be found taking photographs, reading a novel or watching an indie film. In college, he looks forward to studying biochemistry and global studies.

Gillian Patton is a senior in the Discovery magnet program and a National Merit finalist. She has done research concerning a new method of treatment for Alzheimer's disease. She is a part of Mock Trial, Circle of Friends, Student Council, Latin Club and Mu Alpha Theta at Spring Valley. She also plays the violin in the South Carolina Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Presidential Scholars winners will be announced in early May and honored in Washington, D.C. Application to the program is by invitation only. Students are selected based on broad academic achievement; academic and artistic scholarship in the visual arts, the performing arts or creative writing; or outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

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.