A Cherry-Valley High School senior is one step closer to a trip to the White House after being selected as a semifinalist to become a Presidential Scholar of the Arts.
Maggie Millner was one of 141 chosen as semifinalists in the youngARTs competition from the 6,000 applicants for the awards this year, according to a release from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, which runs the program.
There were 48 semi-finalists announced on Thursday. The 20 finalists will be officially announced on May 4.
Millner, who often uses poetry as an avenue of self-expression, was one of 43 receiving recognition at a weeklong series of workshops and events in January in Miami, that were used to further evaluate the 17- and 18-year old students, a spokesman said.
The winners, who will be chosen on the basis of several qualities, including superior academic and artistic achievement, will be honored at the White House. They will also have an opportunity show their artwork at the Smithsonian American Art Museum or perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington D.C.
