Rachel Stall, a senior at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, has been named a U.S. Presidential Scholar.
Stall of Clarksville is the daughter of Janelle and Ken Stall. She is one of 161 high school seniors nationwide recognized for their accomplishments in academics, the arts and career and technical education fields.
The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Education.
The 2019 academic U.S. Presidential Scholars— the 55th class of scholars—are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad.
Stall said she was surprised to receive the news that she had been selected. She received an email during the class day.
“I was really shocked,” Stall said. “I received the email in class. I turned to my best friend and said “I’m going to meet the president.’ I was really excited. I didn’t have super high hopes because it is such a tough competition.”
A ceremony will be held June 23 in Washington, D.C., where each honoree will receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.
Stall plans to attend the University of Richmond in Richmond, Va. She has been named a Richmond Scholar, which will pay full tuition and fees. She plans to study environmental science with an emphasis on anthropology.
“It will sort of be a mix between chemistry and ecology mixed with statistics. It will allow me to study how the environment affects people,” she said.
Each Presidential Scholar is allowed to choose a teacher to be recognized as well. Stall chose Dr. Lindsey Waddell, a chemistry and geoscience instructor at ASMSA. Waddell served as Stall’s science fair project adviser for the last two years. Both years, Stall has qualified for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest high school science fair competition.
“I felt like my research here at ASMSA is one of the big reasons of my success,” Stall said. “She helped me realize what I want to do in my life, which is science.”
Stall said the Presidential Scholar honor is a culmination of her previous work and honors. She is excited to get to make a trip to Washington in June. “It is one of my favorite places. And getting to go to the White House and meet the president — I don’t think much could top it.”