FIU's Maidique Named to Bush's Commission on Presidential Scholars
University President Is One of Two Floridians Chosen

President Modesto A. Maidique

MIAMI, Fla. (May 1, 2001) - FIU President Modesto A. Maidique has been named to President George W. Bush's Commission on Presidential Scholars, a nationwide panel that each year recognizes and honors America's most distinguished graduating high-school seniors.

White House staff confirmed Maidique's appointment today, along with those of 24 other community, business and education leaders. Maidique is one of only two Floridians to be named to the panel (Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer S. Carroll, a retired Naval officer, is the other). The White House is expected to make a formal announcement of the Commission membership this week, with the group's first formal meetings set for May 4 - 7 in Washington.

This marks the third time that Maidique has been tapped for service by the White House. He served both George H.W. Bush and the current president as a member of the education advisory committees to their respective transition teams.

"As someone who cares deeply about education and as an American, I'm deeply honored to have been asked to be part of this Commission," said Maidique. "It will be a privilege to serve and to play a role in drawing recognition to the best and brightest students that our nation's high schools are producing. Those students' accomplishments are symbolic of the excellence that is possible within our nation's schools."

The Commission was founded in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson, and selected 121 scholars in its initial year. Since then, it has tapped some 4,000 honorees. Last year's class of
141 scholars included one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 at-large scholars and 20 scholars in the arts.

Students are chosen based on two paths of accomplishment: Broad academic achievement and both academic and artistic scholarship. And they are selected from literally hundreds of candidates whose performance on the SAT and/or ACT exams ranks them in the top percentile of all graduating seniors.
A preliminary review committee has already reviewed materials submitted by some 1,800 candidates this year, 507 of whom have now been forwarded to the Commission as academic semifinalists along with 38 candidates for Presidential Scholar in the Arts. The Commission will select 121 Presidential Scholars and up to 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts, according to the White House.

Presidential Scholars travel to Washington in June for National Recognition Week, during which they meet with government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and other notables as guests of the Commission. Educators who the Scholars name as most influential in their academic experience are also invited to Washington, where they are presented with Teacher Recognition Awards.

For more information on the Presidential Scholars program and the Commission on Presidential Scholars, visit www.presidentialscholars.org.

Founded in 1965, FIU is now one of the nation's largest universities and Florida's only metropolitan, public institution to hold both a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and the leading research university rating from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Media Contact: Todd M.-P. Simmons 305-348-2232