C-Falls teens rise above the ranks to become U.S. Presidential Scholars

Columbia Falls High School seniors Annabel Conger and Colin Norick have accomplished an incredible feat.

Both were named U.S. Presidential Scholars — one of the country’s highest honors to recognize the best and the brightest graduating seniors, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

To put that in perspective, of the 3.5 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, about 5,100 candidates qualified for the 2017 scholar awards. Just 161 made the cut.

The 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholars includes one male and female from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large. Twenty high school seniors were chosen for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education.

U.S. Presidential Scholars are selected based on academic success, essays, transcripts, community service, leadership and a demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

Scholars will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June to attend a ceremony sponsored by the White House to accept the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion.

Applying to the scholar program is by invitation only based on SAT or ACT exam scores or nominations by Chief State School Officers.

Student applications then have to rise through the ranks of candidate, then semifinalist status.

“It’s the top 161 scholars the government has seen as the ‘best of the best’ I would like to say,” Norick said.

Both spoke to what gave them an edge in being invited to apply. Conger noted her ACT score of 34 out of a possible 36, and Norick noted his performance at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, a national program run in collaboration with the research arm of the Department of Defense.

Only an hour before a scheduled interview about the students’ semifinalist status on Thursday, did Conger find out she and Norick were officially named U.S. Presidential Scholars. For Norick, it was even sooner.

“Annabel told me like five minutes ago,” Norick said. “I was very happy.”

“It’s just weird two people from the same tiny school were picked out of the entire state,” Conger said, her voice bubbling with astonishment and excitement.

Columbia Falls High School has an enrollment of about 643 students.

There wasn’t much time between receiving the news to celebrate. School had just recently dismissed for the day and the news was still sinking in.

“I called my mom,” Conger said. “I might get some ice cream, but I have to study for a chemistry test tomorrow.”

“I might have some sparkling cider, nonalcoholic of course, play a board game or two,” Norick said.

The duo, who have competed together as Policy Debate partners for four years and are the Class A reigning state champions, have even more in common.

Conger and Norick have both been accepted and plan to attend Stanford University in California in the fall.

“It was wild we both got in,” Conger said.

Conger plans to study biology, physics and astrophysics, but hasn’t determined what she’ll major in yet. Norick is interested in artificial intelligence and plans to double major in computer science and cognitive science with a minor in astronomy.

Perhaps what is even more exceptional about Norick’s recent accolades is that he was also selected as one of 150 seniors to the 29th class of Coca-Cola Scholars from a pool of nearly 86,000 applicants from around the nation. As a scholar he will receive a $20,000 scholarship.

He also rose to the top of 33,0000 applicants to win out a $50,000 Elks Most Valuable Student scholarship through the Elks National Foundation Scholarship Program. As one of the top-20 national finalists he received an all-expense paid trip to Chicago to speak at a leadership weekend in April.

For most of the interview Norick is fairly quiet, but when talking about the scholarships and funding college he good-naturedly said, “It’s my time to shine.”

“My undergraduate studies are paid for. I hit more $100,000 to attend Stanford,” Norick said, noting that of that amount, he will be able to save $70,000 for graduate school.

“That’s what I’m planning at the moment,” Norick said.

In addition to competing on the Columbia Falls High School speech and debate team, the pair also participated in Model U.N. and Academic WorldQuest, a team competition put on by the Montana World Affairs Council.

Conger has also competed in cross country and worked on a past political campaign for Rep. Zac Perry, D-Hungry Horse.

Norick has also participated in 4-H, competed in science fairs at the state and international levels winning several top awards, and was named a distinguished finalist by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for his community service efforts in creating a club for teen leaders.

Norick is the son of Skyler and Tara. Conger is the daughter of Barry and Krista.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.