Whipp is 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholar

DE PERE – The U.S. Department of Education recently announced the selection of David Leonard Whipp of De Pere — who attended West De Pere High School — as a 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholar.

“Whipp is one of 161 outstanding American high school graduates who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, technical expertise, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community,” a U.S. Department of Education release stated.

“Scholars are selected annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

“Of the 3.9 million students who graduated from high school this year, more than 6,400 candidates qualified for the 2025 awards determined by outstanding performance on the SAT or ACT exam or through nominations made by chief state school officers and partner recognition organizations.

The 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars consist of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the artsand 20 scholars in career and technical education.

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored approximately 8,600 of the nation’s top-performing students.

Since 1983, each U.S. Presidential Scholar has been offered the opportunity to name his or her most influential teacher.

Each teacher is then recognized with a personal letter from the U.S. Secretary of Education.

The teacher chosen for recognition by Whipp was Jack Batten of West De Pere High School.