By Ralph Echtinaw

St. Louis High School valedictorian Curtis Brashaw has been selected as a semifinalist for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program.

Although Brashaw hasn’t won yet, just making it into the semifinals is impressive, as 625 semifinalists were chosen from more than 6,000 applicants.

Sometime next month up to 161 of the semifinalists will be announced as winners.

One male student and one female student are chosen from each state, the District of Columbia, the territory of Puerto Rico and from U.S. citizens and legal residents living abroad, whose parents are also U.S. citizens. In addition, up to 15 students are chosen at large.

The winners are invited to Washington, DC in June for the National Recognition Program, featuring various events and enrichment activities and culminating in the presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a White House-sponsored ceremony.

Background

Brashaw is the the second of three children of his late mother and father (Curtis and Pamela Brashaw). He currently lives with grandmother Jeanette Baxter along with younger sister Brooke. His older brother Adam lives in Pennsylvania.

Brashaw plans to study international economics at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

For the last year he has worked as one of three interns for the city of St. Louis. 

“During this past year, I have learned a lot about how to put together financial reports, use the Microsoft Suite, as well as how local municipalities work,” he said. “I am very grateful to be able to take these skills with me to my future career and education.”