Princeton High senior named U.S. Presidential Scholar

Winona Guo

Princeton High School senior Winona Guo has been named a 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholar. She is one of only five New Jersey students to be honored with the designation.

Established in 1964 by executive order of the president, the program recognizes and honors some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.

Scholars are selected based on their academic success as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated  commitment to high ideals.

Guo is one of the founders of Princeton Choose, an organization that works to promote conversations about race in schools and the community. She has been accepted into Harvard University and plans to take a year off before she starts her studies so she can continue her work with Princeton Choose.

“Winona is one of the hardest working and driven students I’ve ever had. But what’s more remarkable about Winona is that she’s driven by a moral compass that’s always steering her in the direction of improving the world around her,” said Tim Campbell, a social studies teacher at Princeton High School. “One way or another, I know Winona will continue changing the world.”

Campbell also was named a 2017 distinguished teacher by the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

“Tim is one of the outstanding teachers at Princeton High School as he challenges his students to move beyond a surface-level approach to history towards a more comprehensive and  sophisticated understanding of historical themes and causation and the very real and important  ways in which the past shapes our present,” said Mark Shelley, the supervisor of social studies at the high school. “He pushes his students to think critically and divergently and to consider their role as global citizens who seek to be informed and empathetic.”

2 Comments

  1. Fantastic! Congratulations to Guo, Campbell, and PHS. Princeton Choose is a wonderful group. Check them out if you haven’t yet, and pick up their book.

  2. I guess it’s the nature of the online comments beast… That a celebration of someone working to advance conversations about race doesn’t garner the same attention as articles about the punishment being ladled out for the same.

    Winona, congratulations. We are all watching. Personally, I am incredible proud of you and Priya. And I second BlueBlazer, pick up the book or donate. Just do it.

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