Josephine Chu Named U.S. Presidential Scholar

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by President Obama, selects the nation’s top-performing students annually for this prestigious award.

 

Chu is one of 141 outstanding American high school seniors from across the country and the only female from Delaware this year to receive the award for demonstrating outstanding academic achievement, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community. The U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington D.C. from June 22-25.

 

A National Merit Commended Scholar, Josephine is a member of the Cum Laude Society. She was chosen for the National High School Flute Choir, All-National Honors Ensemble, All-State Chorus and All-State Band, and received the Golden Key Music International Festival Award. At Tower Hill School, she is the secretary of the student-faculty council and participates in the math league, Jefferson Awards club, community service club and diversity club. In athletics, she has competed on the swimming, tennis, volleyball and golf teams. As a member of the Chinese American Community Center Folk Dance Troupe of Hockessin, she performed in President Obama’s inauguration ceremonies, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, the London's New Year's parade and for the Mayors of London at Whitehall.

 

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. The teacher chosen for recognition by Chu was Tower Hill teacher Leigh Thompson, who was named Chemistry Teacher of the Year for Delaware in 2012 by the American Chemical Society.

 

Josephine will attend Cornell University this fall.

Photo: U.S. Presidential Scholar Josephine Chu with Head of Upper School/Assistant Head of School Dan Hickey, Chemistry teacher Leigh Thompson and Headmaster Harry Baetjer