Minjoo Son, a senior at Platteville High School, has been named one of more than 3,000 candidates in the 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

The candidates were selected from nearly 3.4 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools this year. Son, the daughter of Wonim Son and Hunsu Son, is one of 57 Wisconsin high school seniors chosen as a candidate.

More than 3,000 candidates were selected for their exceptional performance on either the College Board SAT or the ACT Assessment. Each chief state school officer was also invited to nominate three male and three female students, based on their outstanding scholarship. Further consideration is based on students’ essays, self-assessments, descriptions of activities, school recommendations and school transcripts.

A distinguished panel of educators will review submissions and select 500 semifinalists in early April. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by President Barack Obama, will make final selection of the Scholars. The commission will select one male and one female student from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. students living abroad, plus 15 at-large students and up to 20 students from the creative and performing arts. The U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in May.

Scholars will be invited to Washington, D.C., in June to receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion and participate in events and activities with their elected representatives, educators and other leading individuals in public life.