YARMOUTH — Reed Wommack was named a 2010 United States Presidential Scholar on May 3 by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Wommack, a senior at Yarmouth High School, is one of 141 high school seniors nationally who were chosen for their exceptional academic achievement, artist excellence, leadership, citizenship and service at school and in their community.

The scholars include one male and one female from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from United States families living abroad. There are also 15 students chosen at-large, and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

Maine’s other Presidential Scholar is Dakota Snyder of York High School.

The program was created in 1964 to honor academic achievement. In 1979 it was expanded to recognize students with exceptional visual, literary and performing arts skills.

Mary Highland, world languages teacher at the high school, was nominated by Wommack as the teacher who most influenced his high school career.

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Highland said she has been Wommack’s adviser for four years, and his Spanish teacher as well. As the teacher chosen by the student, she will be able to travel with him to Washington, D.C., in June when he and the other scholars are honored.

“This is an absolute thrill,” Highland said Tuesday afternoon. “It is an unbelievable honor. There is no question why he was chosen for this award.”

Highland said as this year’s valedictorian, the president of the Chess Club and Outing Club, captain of the state champion ski team, member of the baseball team, Young Liberals Club, Student Senate, and Model U.N., there is no doubt Wommack is an involved and dedicated student. He is also learning Chinese and travelled to China, she said.

Wommack and the other U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored in Washington from June 19-22.

Amy Anderson can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or aanderson@theforecaster.net


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