February 26, 2009 12:36 pm
—
By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer
ROSEBOOM — Cherry Valley-
Springfield senior Maggie
Millner has her fingers crossed in
hopes she will be invited to Washington,
DC.
The 17-year-old from Roseboom
was recently named one of
60 Presidential Scholar and the
Arts candidates as part of the
2009 Presidential Scholars Program.
Candidates were nominated
from over 6,500 participants
in the annual youngARTS competition
conducted by the National
Foundation for Advancement
in Arts.
Millner has about a one out of
three chance of being selected as
a finalist. If chosen, she will receive
an all-expense paid trip to
the capital where she would
spend several days in June meeting
with government officials,
educators, authors, musicians,
scientists and other accomplished
people. She would also have the
opportunity to visit museums
and monuments and attend recitals.
``I would probably be able to
meet President Obama, and that
would be really exciting because I
am a big fan,’’ said Millner.
Millner said she would also
get the chance of
a lifetime— to
perform some of
her poetry at the
Smithsonian,
where her work
would also be put
on display.
``That would
just be amazing,’’
said Millner.
The Presidential Scholar 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 the visual, creative and performing
arts.
Each year, 141 Scholars, including
up to 20 Scholars of the
Arts nominees, are selected based
on superior academic and artistic
achievements, leadership qualities,
strong character and in-
volvement in school and
community activities.
This year, over 3,000
students are eligible for the
program’s academic component,
based on outstanding
scores on the SAT or ACT
exam. Of these, 121 will be
selected as Presidential
Scholars.
The 60 arts candidates
were selected for their exceptional
performance in
the disciplines of dance,
film/video, instrumental
music, jazz, voice, photography,
theater, visual arts
and creative writing.
According to Millner,
she was nominated based
on her creative writing
skills and her character
while attending the youngARTS
week-long program
held in Miami in January.
While there, Millner said
she was interviewed, displayed
her portfolio and
preformed some of her poetry
during poetry readings.
Millner, said she applied
for the program on a whim,
and was ``pretty excited’’
when selected. This was
also an expense-paid trip.
Not only does Millner
write poetry, but she says
she also enjoys writing nonfiction,
and short stories.
She said she would eventually
like to write novels,
when the time is right.
Writing has been a passion
of Millner’s since a
young age. She started
writing at the age of 5 and
would dictate stories to her
mom even before she could
use a pen and notebook.
According to Millner,
most of her inspiration has
come from reading work by
poets such as Pablo Neruda,
Adrienne Rich and Louise
Gluck. She said her parents,
Barbara Sepp and
Bob Millner, have also been
very supportive of her writing.
Millner said her mom
has been like a personal
manager because she is the
one responsible for finding
scholarship and poetry contest
opportunities. Millner
said she has won eight
awards in poetry contests
held across the nation —
receiving first place honors
in three.
Being accepted into the
youngARTS Program has
been Millner’s biggest accomplishment,
according to
her. She said winning the
Bennington Young Writers
Competition is next on her
list of achievements. First
place winners are awarded
$500.
Millner said she has
been accepted into Brown
University through the early
decision acceptance program.
She said she plans to
major in literary arts with
a concentration in creative
writing.
Semifinalists will be announced
early in April and
finalists will be selected in
May.
Copyright © 1999-2010 cnhi, inc.