Boundary County Excellence: BFHS senior up for presidential scholar program

BONNERS FERRY — Bonners Ferry High School senior Kaylee McCabe is in the running for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 and honors and recognizes some of the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to 161 students are named as presidential scholars,

McCabe earned her associate’s degree at North Idaho College last semester. Due in part to taking college courses, which are weighted on a five-point scale for high school, she maintained a 4.55 grade point average.

McCabe is one of approximately 112 Idaho seniors in the running for this national honor. Only one male and one female high school senior from Idaho will receive the honor.

McCabe told the Herald that she submitted her grade point average and SAT scores through the Idaho Board of Education. She said the program is merit-based and that she didn’t submit to it directly, rather she was invited to join the program.

Each year, approximately 4,000 students across the U.S., territories and abroad are invited to apply to the program. Students must be U.S citizens.

“I’m excited to be selected and to see if I go further,” McCabe said.

She said being in the running for the program is an honor in itself. When applying, she didn’t think she’d get recognized, knowing that she’d be up against every other senior in Idaho, she said.

While attending BFHS, McCabe was able to take NIC courses online and at the former satellite office in Bonners Ferry. She is involved in the BFHS’s robotics club known as FIRST Team Alpha+2130 and National Honor Society.

After high school, she plans to attend Boise State University and pursue a biology degree. Her goal is to attend medical school and become a forensic pathologist.

BFHS English teacher Paul Bonnell said he had the pleasure to teach McCabe in several English courses and NIC classes.

“She is analytical and reflective in her writing and class discussion,” he said. “Her work exhibits a depth of thought. She is motivated and keen to interact with literature and ideas.”

Julie Krezman, an adviser with the BFHS robotics club, said gracious professionalism and cooperation are core values to the robotics team and also describe how Kaylee approaches the FIRST program and her role on the robotics team.

“Kaylee leads by example in her participation and collaboration within our team,” Krezman said. “She is involved in many aspects of the team. She has taken on the lead role in the business team writing grant proposals, completing community outreach, working as a student mentor and helping to run the summer camp program.”

Last year, McCabe also explored the electrical and building aspects of robotics. Currently, she is working on prototyping and designing parts of the robot, drawing them in CAD, and cutting them out on the CNC machine.

“Kaylee’s passion and commitment are clearly evident in her year-round contributions to our team. Kaylee is a hard worker and ready to take on any task regardless of how small or large. She is talented, caring, dedicated and focused on her pursuits,” she said.

For the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, McCabe will have to complete an application packet to continue. This includes 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. The packet is due at the end of the month.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is a recognition program, not a scholarship program. Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive a presidential medallion, in commemoration of their achievements during the online national recognition program.

In late March, approximately 500 semi-finalists will be chosen by an independent panel. Six to 20 semifinalists are identified for each state/jurisdiction by the review committee. The number of semifinalists identified per state/jurisdiction is based on a proportionate number of test takers for that state.

In April/May, the final selection will be made with one young man and one young woman chosen from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad. In addition, up to 15 students are chosen at large.

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Boundary County Excellence, is a new column at the Bonners Ferry Herald which will feature community members that inspire others whether through accomplishments, community service or life experiences. If you know someone who is an example of Boundary County Excellence, email us at news@bonnersferryherald.com.