Seniors Eli Russell and Lucy Silbaugh have been named candidates in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, which annually recognizes the nation’s most distinguished high school seniors. Eli and Lucy are now in competition to be chosen one of 800 semifinalists. From that group, about 160 finalists will be selected this spring.

Eli, who scored a perfect 2400 on his SAT test, said he was a candidate because the program selects the top scorers in each state. In his semifinalist application, he is writing about acting in his first professional theater show and his experience in the National History Day competition. “It feels great to be recognized, and I’m excited to be repping AFS!” he wrote.

Lucy’s writing talent, along with her participation and honors in the YoungArts program, caught the eye of the scholars’ review committee. Since she entered Upper School, the Sierra Nevada Young Writers Contest and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards have recognized her short stories.

“For the past four years,” Lucy said, “I’ve felt so much support from AFS about my writing — especially from Mary Lynn Ellis, who is just unbelievably generous with her time. I really feel that Mary Lynn should be up for this award, too, so I’m so glad there’s a place in the application to nominate teachers who helped.”

Is it any wonder that these two seniors are on the national radar screen for their accomplishments?