Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF, WE-Sag Harbor) announced that two of the students he recommended have been chosen by State Education Department Commissioner Elia to be part of the 25 New York State high school seniors nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Ms. Victoria Blydenburgh of Westhampton Beach High School and Ms. Siena Gates of Southampton High School (CTE Candidate) were the nominees.

The Presidential Scholars Program was established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and recognizes high school seniors on the basis of outstanding scholarship. This recognition is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. Commissioner Elia has high school seniors — 10 females and 10 males — and five students in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs from New York to be considered for this honor.

Assemblyman Thiele stated, “I am thrilled that Commissioner Elia has chosen two of my local students to be part of the twenty five New York State high school seniors nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program! Ms. Victoria Blydenburgh and Ms. Siena Gates are outstanding students who stand out as having academic success, leadership qualities, and extraordinary personal achievements. I am proud to represent these fine young women in the First Assembly District and wish them luck as they move to the national level as finalists in this notable competition.”

Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholar Finalists will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June 2017 and will be presented with the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

For more information about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program and the Commission on Presidential Scholars please visit: www.ed.gov/psp.