[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
by Stephen Press
Hometown Weekly Staff
When Needham High School senior Dianne Lee called her family in the middle of the school day, it was difficult for her to contain herself. "I called home pretty much right after I found out and we screamed (quietly, because school was still in session)," she said.
It would have been difficult to hold it against her if she had let out a shout. Dianne had just found out that she'd been named a 2016 Presidential Scholar, described by the U.S. Department of Education as "one of the nation's highest honors for high school students."
The Presidential Scholars program was started by executive order of President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. It was created to recognize the achievements of America's most distinguished high school seniors. In 1979, the program was expanded to include students whose achievements lay in the arts as well as the classroom.
A maximum of 161 students are selected for the honor each year, all of whom are invited to a special Recognition Program in Washington, DC, in June. The culmination of the Program is the presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion at the White House. Among the Program's most famous scholars are screenwriter Josh Singer (co-writer of the 2015 Academy Award-winning film, "Spotlight") and federal judge Merrick Garland.
For Dianne, it was all a matter of doing what came naturally to her. "I love to learn and I'm lucky in that I've never had to sign up for a class in a subject I didn't enjoy at least some aspect of," she said, reflecting on the diligence that had brought her to this point. "Yes the work gets tough sometimes, but there's always that ah-ha moment, in math, science, social studies, or English, that motivates me to keep going."
"I'm just incredibly honored and grateful for the recognition," said Lee. Her gratitude did not end there, though. "I was lucky enough to have many mentors in my time at Needham that I would love to thank," she said, producing a veritable catalog of thank-yous:
"For the Distinguished Teacher recognition of the Presidential Scholar Program, I nominated Mr. Hans Batra, who was my teacher for Robotics, AP Computer Science, and Senior STEM Capstone this year, who really helped me develop a passion for computer science and technology. I'd like to thank Ms. Jennifer Carmody, who helped me pursue a love for math in Calculus and several independent studies. I'd also like to recognize Ms. Jane Chinnaswamy, my advisor for the Girls Who Code Club - I couldn't have done it without her. I would also like to thank Mrs. Catherine Dowd, my AP Government teacher, for helping me develop a love for government which I plan to pursue in college and maybe beyond. I'd like to thank Coach Carl Tarabelli, who was incredibly supportive of all of my endeavors both during and outside of the soccer season. And last but not least, I'd like to thank my guidance counselor, Mrs. Mary Jane Walker, for encouraging and advising me through the years. I'd also like to conclude with thanking all of the teachers I was fortunate enough to have during my time at NHS."
Dianne will matriculate at Harvard College next year, where she plans to concentrate in computer science while taking classes in statistics and government, in addition to writing for The Harvard Crimson. She's already flirting with the idea of grad school, too. "Wherever I end up, I know that I'd like to work at the intersection of my passions for computer science and writing," she says.
While her future is anything but set in stone, one thing remains certain: when she meets the President next month, Dianne will carry NHS in her heart. "Just the amazing support that I found here, for everything from academics to really anything," she said. "Though I've only been here for the last three years, Needham will always hold a special place for me."
