by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A Sartell high-school senior, Gopi Ramanathan, was given a rare honor recently when he was named as one of 160 students in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Ramanathan is the son of Gajendranathan and Vasugi Ramanathan of Sartell.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program began in 1964 as an executive order by President Lyndon Johnson. As part of the U.S. Department of Education, its goal was to honor the nation’s most distinguished graduating high-school seniors. In 1979, the program was expanded to honor students with exceptional talents in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, it was again expanded for accomplishments in career and technical-education fields.
Ramanathan is one of only two Minnesotans to be named to the program for 2016. The other is Anna Biggs of Roseville, who attends the St. Paul Academy and Summit School.
Throughout his school years, Ramanathan has been a top achiever. Among his accomplishments are these:
• President of the Minnesota Association of Student Councils.
• Sartell Student Council member.
• Winner two times of the Minnesota Geography Bee and a national competitor in the National Bee in Washington, D.C. He also was a member of the U.S. World Geography Bee Team.
• Winner of a St. Cloud Times Media 21 and Under Award.
• A student representative for the Sartell-St. Stephen School Board.
• National Honor Society member.
• A mentor in the Big Brother Big Sisters program.
• A coach for the MathMasters teams at the school.
• A winner of spelling bees and Knowledge Bowls.
• A dedicated soccer player.
Gopi Ramanathan
