MADISON – With the start of the 2022 award season for academic standouts, Madison City Schools is home to two U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalists.

“Congratulations to Aubteen Pour-Biazar at Bob Jones High School and Yewon Lee at James Clemens High School. Both have attended Madison City Schools since kindergarten,” MCS Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols said in one of his weekly email updates.

“Only 14 students statewide earned this prestigious honor as U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalists, and two are from Madison City Schools,” Nichols said. “The legacy of Madison City Schools is a testament to all of the dedicated teachers, support staffs, principals, administrators and board members both past and present.”

While enrolled at James Clemens, Lee was selected as 1 of 52 students in the United States for the Research Science Institute or RSI, a summer academic research program that Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT sponsors.

In addition, Lee was recognized with a grand award in biochemistry at the International Science & Engineering Fair. She qualified multiple times for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination and U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad.

Lee is a National Merit Scholarship winner. She will attend Harvard University in the fall.

Pour-Biazar is a lifelong resident of Madison. He said service is a large part of his life, evidenced by serving as fundraising chair of United Way’s Youth Leaders Council of Madison County, President of Bob Jones Math and French Honor Societies, and captain of Bob Jones’ Debate Team.

He has been accepted at some of the top schools in the nation. Pour-Biazar hopes to pursue an undergraduate degree in political science or public policy before entering law school. “My long-term goal is to be in a position where I can give back to Alabama by helping advance the quality of life in our state,” he said.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the President. The program recognizes and honors some of our 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.

In 2015, the program was extended again to recognize students who demonstrate ability in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

For more information about the U.S. Presidential Scholar program, visit www2.ed.gov/programs.