Parker School senior Lysha Matsunobu recently was named a 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholar.
Parker School senior Lysha Matsunobu recently was named a 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholar.
Matsunobu is one of 141 outstanding American high school seniors who demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments June 22-25 in Washington, D.C.
“The extraordinary young men and women being honored for the 50th anniversary of the Presidential Scholars have excelled in their educational, artistic and civic pursuits,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
“They show all of us that when students challenge themselves and commit themselves to excellence, the results can be astounding.”
Since 1983, each Presidential Scholar has been offered the opportunity to name his or her most influential teacher.
Each distinguished teacher is honored with a personal letter from the Secretary of Education. Matsunobu chose Parker English and history teacher Ruth Sturges for recognition.
Matsunobu, the daughter of Miriam and Neal Matsunobu of Kona, also recently advanced as a National Merit Finalist.
As a student at Parker, she has been a Richard Smart Scholar, earned the Yale Book Award, is an AP Scholar with Distinction and has earned the National Forensics League Degree of Distinction for her accomplishments on the debate team.
She is a member of the Parker School Investment Club, is National Honor Society President and Lincoln-Douglas Debate Captain.
Matsunobu also recently appeared in the news for her science accomplishments — she attended the Summer Science Program in Santa Barbara last summer.
Matsunobu was one of only 72 out of 742 national and international applicants accepted to attend.
She also was a presenter at the Galaxy Forum in Waimea in November.