Local student is Fayette system's first Presidential Scholar

By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@TheCitizenNews.com

Starr's Mill High School senior Chad Troop is surprised, and why not? He's been named one of 140 Presidential Scholars out of 2.8 million students nationwide.

Troop is one of three from Georgia to receive the honor, Secretary of State Linda Schrenko announced Wednesday.

"To be named a Presidential Scholar is one of the nation's highest honors in academic achievement for high school students," said Schrenko.

Troop is the first Fayette County public school student ever to receive the award. A private school student from Peachtree City won it last year.

From nearly 2.8 million graduating high school seniors, approximately 2,600 are identified as candidates for the program based on SAT and ACT scores, and that number is narrowed to 500 semifinalists.

The Commission on Presidential Scholars selects the winners on the basis of their accomplishments in academic and artistic success, leadership and involvement in school and community.

That involvement for Troop includes being president of Peachtree City's Youth Advisory Board, as well as being on the National Honor Society and Beta Club in school and playing recreational basketball and school soccer, running track and cross country and being on the varsity academic team.

"It was a huge surprise to me," said Troop after receiving the news Wednesday. "It's incredible to be part of such a select group of students. I'm really honored to be a part of that."

Troop is a product of Fayette County schools, having attended here from first grade on up. His family moved here when he was a young child.

"I've had great teachers all throughout," he said. "Fayette County schools have been great."

Among those teachers is Dr. Bob Covel, Troop's advanced placement English teacher, who will accompany Troop to Washington for a week of recognition in late June, named the youth's "most influential teacher."

"He was just a great role model, and incredible person and an inspiration," said Troop.

After being identified as a candidate, Troop said, he filled out an application, followed by a series of essays, eight in all, on such topics as his leadership activities, community involvement and "if I had ten minutes of time on national television, what would I say."

On that last one, Troop said he expounded on how he would encourage greater participation in government.

Next on Troop's agenda is a few years at Duke University, where he will probably go into biology and premed, he said. "I'd like to be some type of surgeon, or possibly do medical research, developing new drugs," he said, "but that's a long way off, and I'm sure I'll change it plenty of times."

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 graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in visual, creative and performing arts.

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