President’s Scholars In The News

President’s Scholar Jupin Mahli is an SMU Student Ambassador
who helped usher guests at the recent awards dinner of the
Methodist Health System, where First Lady Laura Bush
won the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award.

Drew (front row, left) marched as one of the Grand Marshals in the
Disney World parade in June 2007. Later that evening, all 2007 SAMMY
winners were inducted into Disney's Milk House Hall of Fame
where their photos and bios will be featured for the next 20 years.

Drew Petersen, incoming first-year President's Scholar, receives 2007 SAMMY award.

The SAMMY award, sponsored by the National Milk Mustache Got Milk? Campaign and USA Today, is given each year to 25 high school senior student athletes in recognition of outstanding academic performance, athletic excellence, leadership skills and community service.

Each of the 25 winners will receive a $7,500 college scholarship, a spot in the SAMMY Hall of Fame in The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando and a starring role in a special Milk Mustache ad in USA Today.

Drew appears with other 2007 SAMMY winners in the June 25 issue of Sports Illustrated. He also has been invited to be interviewed on the national radio show "Speaking Freely" about his experiences qualifying for and winning the SAMMY award.

Drew with ice skating champion Michelle Kwan
and Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman.
Rex and Michelle served as judges in the national
competition and were speakers at the
awards banquet on June 23.

Beth Mably, incoming first-year President's Scholar, receives Young Artist of the Year award.

Elizabeth "Beth" Mably (4th from the left) receives 2007 Arts Award in June from the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana. Beth has danced with the Evansville Dance Theatre for many years, studying several summers in the Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program. Full Story

Jordan Johansen, incoming first-year President's Scholar, makes headlines in The Dallas Morning News.

12:00 AM CDT on Friday, June 8, 2007

DeSoto valedictorian's hard work pays off.

What Jordan's teachers had to say:

Harry Blake, her high school band director, said Jordan would be "at the very top 1 percent of kids in any high school music program. But she would do well at anything she tried. She's willing to put in the time and effort to master anything she tries, even if it doesn't come easy."

Donna Lantrip, Jordan's calculus teacher, echoed Mr. Blake's assessment. "She challenges herself. Jordan could just as easily have been a math major," Ms. Lantrip said. "Her whole inner being is to do the best she can do at everything she attempts. She never did the minimum in high school. I'd love to have a whole class of Jordans. She challenged me, too."

Jordan also was interviewed and featured as a GOOD KID.

What Jordan had to say:

The biggest honors I ever received were: being named a President's Scholar and receiving the Campus Community Award at SMU; being named DeSoto valedictorian.

My goals for this year are to: adjust to college life, keep myself organized, make friends, learn tons and have fun.