The U.S. Presidential Scholars program has invited six students from Indian Springs School to apply to be Presidential Scholars. Every year a maximum of 141 students from across the country are selected and the competition is tough.

Will Matheson, of Harpersville, is one of the half dozen students from Indian Springs School to be honored with the invitation.

&8220;I didn&8217;t realize I had qualified until I got the letter but it is based on your SAT scores ,and I got a 1600 on the verbal and math portions,&8221; Matheson said. &8220;It (ISS) gives you good fundamentals and since I had taken a lot of the math classes the things I learned made the SAT seem trivial.&8221;

Other students selected to submit applications were seniors Jenna Caldwell of Indian Springs, Gina Lee of Korea, Bryan Song of Birmingham, Nate Stockham of Birmingham, and Ceci Wright of Prattville.

Being named a Presidential Scholar is one of the nation&8217;s highest honors for high school students and application is by invitation only. Students who apply are selected based on their scores on the SAT or ACT exam.

Bryan Song said being invited to apply for the program wasn&8217;t originally on his radar screen, but that it is an honor all the same.&8220;This wasn&8217;t something I was striving for when I sat down to take the test,&8221; Song said. &8220;I wanted a good score so the invitation is like a bonus.&8221;

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize some of the most distinguished graduating students in the nation.

Dae Song, Bryan&8217;s father, believes Indian Springs School and the state have done well to produce quality students. &8220;Alabama has its share of bright kids and that is something to be proud of,&8221; Song said. &8220;Bryan will do well in college because that school (ISS) is that tough and that strong. I believe when you do well there you can do well anywhere, even at the toughest colleges.&8221;

Students chosen as Presidential Scholars receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D. C. in June and the Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House, in commemoration of their achievements.

Indian Springs School is a national leader in co-ed boarding and day education in grades 8-12. ISS had more students selected to apply than any other high school in the state.