photo from left( Sage Mize-Harper, Tony Pfannerstill, and Sarah Cauley) #murrayschools
Sarah Cauley, Sage Mize Harper, and Anthony Pfannerstill seniors at Murray High School, have been named Candidates in the 2024 United States Presidential Scholars Program by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the United States Department of Education. Cauley, Mize-Harper, and Pfannerstill are among the approximately 80 Kentucky high school seniors chosen.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize and honor some of the nation's most distinguished high school seniors. Students are selected based on academic success, leadership, and service to school and community. Of the 3.6 million high school seniors graduating this year, approximately 5,000 students from across the country have been selected to participate in the prestigious recognition program. The Commission on Presidential Scholars will select five hundred semifinalists from the national pool of honored students. In the spring, up to 161 of those students, including one male and one female from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad, will be named as U.S. Presidential Scholars. These students will be recognized at the White House later this summer.
A Murray State University Commonwealth Honors Academy alumnus, Pfannerstill participates in FBLA, Beta Club, Student Council, Leo Club, and Chess Club. During his junior year, he was a member of the MHS Football team. Pfannerstill has been recognized with local and national awards including a 30+ ACT recognition award, Rotary Student of the Month, and named a College Board National Rural and Small-Town Recognition Winner. He is listed in the National Society of High School Scholars, National Honors Society, and named a QuestBridge College Prep Scholar. (Pfannerstill is the son of Anthony R. Pfannerstill).
A 2023 Governor Scholar For the Arts film and photography recipient, Mize-Harper is a bass clarinet member of the Murray Tiger Band since sixth grade, and now section leader in the marching band. Mize-Harper has also been on the Academic Team since fourth grade and competed on the speech team in grades 6-10. A 2023 Leadership Tomorrow graduate, Mize-Harper plans to attend Western Kentucky University to pursue Film and Photography. (Mize-Harper is the daughter of Karen Mize-Harper and Dennis Harper.)
Cauley is a member of the Murray Tiger Band (including marching band, jazz band, etc.). A 2023-2024 Leadership Tomorrow member, Cauley is a member of MHS Varsity Softball, and enrolled in advanced academic courses. Actively involved within Murray High leadership roles, Cauley has been recognized as Rotary Senior of the Month, Most Improved Softball Award, Musically Inclined, and several other awards surrounding her extracurricular activities and academics. Cauley plans to attend Murray State and major in Social Work.