Jamie Biondi '08 Presidential Scholar

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced the selection of Jamie Biondi ’08  as a Presidential Scholar. 
 
Jamie is one of 139 outstanding American high school seniors who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and service qualifying them for selection.  The Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington, D.C. from June 21 to 24.
Jamie has challenged himself with rigorous coursework and extensive involvement in activities both in and out of Brunswick School.  He is dedicated to the arts, and has participated in the theater since Middle School.  He is currently co-president of the School’s drama club, a member of the student government association as a senior prefect, and a leader in the School’s peer leadership mentoring program.  Jamie also leads the Brunswick Fund for Cancer Support.  During the summer, he has shown further leadership as a counselor in baseball and drama camps.

The 139 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 President Bush selected the Scholars based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, along with community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideas.

Of the 3 million students expected to graduate from high school in 2008, over 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™ program conducted by the National Foundation for Advancement in the 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 Jamie is Seth Potter, Brunswick Upper School drama teacher.

Jamie will be attending Yale University next fall.