SHS Senior Teckhua Chiang Selected as Candidate for the US Presidential Scholars Program

SHS Senior Teckhua ChiangSHS senior Teckhua Chiang has been named one of 4,500 candidates in the 2019 US Presidential Scholars Program. His name was selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate in 2019. Scholars are selected on the basis of academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, character and involvement in community and school activities.

Each year over 4,500 candidates are identified for the component of the program that focuses on academic achievement and based on having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or the ACT. From this group of 4,500, 161 students will be named US Presidential Scholars and invited to Washington DC to receive their medallions during a White House sponsored ceremony.

We asked Teckhua Chiang a few questions and here is what he shared:

How did you apply for this award? What was involved?

I did not have to apply to become a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. I was selected based on my high SAT score and other factors by the U.S. Department of Education. The full list of criteria can be found on this webpage. I am currently in the process of applying to become a semifinalist, and eventually, a U.S. Presidential Scholar.

What do you enjoy most at Scarsdale High School?

My favorite part of Scarsdale High School is being a part of Scarsdale Robotics, my high school's robotics team. Over the last four years, I have developed Scarsdale Robotics from a forgotten club into a dynamic team of engineers, designers, and programmers. When I first rebuilt Scarsdale Robotics, many of my teammates didn’t have much experience with robotics. However, with our continued passion and dedication, we gradually developed into incredible roboticists. I will never forget their ear-shattering cheers when we learned that Scarsdale Robotics had successfully qualified for the Hudson Valley Regional Championship. As the captain, I am proud to help inspire my peers with the wonders of robotics. I also direct Scarsdale Robotics to participate in community service outreach events such as HEXPO, STEAM Day, and the Spring Carnival, as well as raise funds through business sponsorships. Scarsdale Robotics is incredibly meaningful to me because I am able to develop my leadership skills, build a diverse team, and help others unlock their love for robotics.

What are your plans for next year?

I plan to study computer science in college. I hope to continue involving myself in a competitive robotics team. I also wish to continue my passion for researching autonomous vehicles, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.