Shrewsbury – Shawn Noronha, a graduating senior at Shrewsbury High School, has been named as a 2020 United States Presidential Scholars semifinalist. As the vice president of the Shrewsbury High School Student Council, president of Globally Making a Difference (a community service group), a leader of multiple honor societies, and an involved member of the school orchestra, varsity tennis team, math team, and Speech and Debate team, Shawn has ingrained himself within almost every facet of life at SHS. Shawn was also a finalist for the 2020 National Merit Scholarship program.
Becoming a Presidential Scholar is one of the nation’s highest honors bestowed on a high school graduate. The program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars’ Review Committee selects honored scholars annually based on their academic success, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, in addition to the quality and content of their essays.
From the nearly 3.6 million graduating high school seniors, more than 5,600 students were identified as candidates in the program based on academic achievement. Candidates then go through a rigorous application process where they must submit candidacy materials, including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. Candidates are evaluated on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership, service and other extracurricular activities, and an analysis of their essays.
Shawn joins a list of 621 other seniors from across the country who were named semifinalists. He is one of 11 students in Massachusetts to be recognized as a semifinalist.
