OAKES, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) An Oakes High senior has been selected as one of 161 recipients of a national award, while an Oakes teacher has also been recognized by the same organization for excellence.

Marissa Diggs has been named as a U.S. Presidential Scholar by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the U.S. Department of Education. More than 5,200 candidates qualified for the 2018 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams. A ceremony will be held June 24, when each honoree will receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.

“I want to congratulate this year’s class of Presidential Scholars on their achievement and also thank their parents, teachers and other academic advisors who have helped guide them along the way,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “These students have pushed themselves to be the best they can be, and I am certain that devotion will serve them well as they continue their individual learning journeys.”

Of the 3.6 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,200 candidates qualified for the 2018 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, through nominations made by Chief State School Officers, other partner recognition organizations or the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts™ competition.

Scholars will be invited to Washington, D.C. for several days in June to receive the Presidential Scholar Medallion at a recognition ceremony and to participate in events and activities.

In addition, four North Dakota teachers were named as President Scholar Program Distinguished Teachers, and Oakes’ K-12 Choral Music teacher Kathie Hay was selected.