Two CCISD seniors nominated for Presidential Scholar Program

Every year over 4,500 seniors are invited to participate in the United States Presidential Scholars Program that recognizes and honors some of the nation's most distinguished graduating high school students.

This year's candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate, on the basis of academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, character and involvement in community and school activities. Ibrahim Al-Akash from Veterans Memorial High School and Aiden Alanmanou from King High School have been selected from the Coastal Bend area.

Al-Akash said when he first heard the news of his nomination, he was elated.

"It was good to know that my hard work in school was being recognized on a national scale," Al-Akash said. "I was selected for this because the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency recommended it to the Department of Education. He sees great potential in my abilities and I appreciate it and thank him for this."

In Texas, 236 seniors were invited. A distinguished panel of educators will review the submissions and select approximately 600 national semifinalists in April. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 esteemed citizens appointed by President Biden, will select up to 161 finalists. The U.S. Department of Education will announce the scholars in May, and they will be invited to Washington, D.C. in June for a recognition ceremony to receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion. 

Al-Akash said the nomination means a lot to him because he pushed himself to take on challenges and persevere when he encountered difficulties.

When the pandemic shut down in-person classes and extracurriculars in CCISD, Al-Akash said his school did a tremendous job in finding solutions to convert to a remote environment.

Al-Akash participates in robotics, engineering club and soccer at Veterans Memorial, but said classes are much easier and convenient for him being virtual.

"The downside is it feels very lonely to attend school from home," Al-Akash said. "I took for granted how meaningful social interactions at school are and how important it is to meet with friends and socialize."

Last year, Al-Akash developed a smart clothing technology, Max Health, to measure heart rhythm, blood sugar, neurological health and asthma attack risk to warn users if an abnormality is detected. The project won him first place in the district science fair.

Al-Akash plans on majoring in biomedical engineering at Rice University and aspires to become a surgeon and found a biomedical technologies company to develop therapeutic solutions. If he became a finalist, he said, he would be over the moon.

"My parents always taught me to be patient, continue trying my best in everything I do, and my hard work would pay off, and this is exactly what transpired," Al-Akash said. "To have this opportunity is a great privilege, and I hope to make the most out of it."

MORE COVERAGE

More:Coastal Bend Regional Science Fair to be split and virtual this year

More:High school soccer: Flour Bluff uses set pieces to upend Veterans Memorial

John Oliva covers issues that matter to you. Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times.