CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Board of Education including State Superintendent Clayton Burch honored three West Virginia students on Wednesday who are among the 57th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars.
The national program recognizes 161 high school seniors from across the country for their accomplishments in academics, the arts and CTE fields.
The West Virginia scholars include Kendra S. Goeddert of Greenbrier East High School, Nicholas G. Murphy of Parkersburg South High School and Zara Zervos of John Marshall High School who was part of the U.S. Presidential Scholar in CTE.
Goeddert and Zervos spoke in front of the board on their experiences in school and life. Murphy was unable to be in attendance.
Goeddert, who is going to West Virginia Wesleyan and majoring in social work, expressed her struggles in life leading up to this moment. She said she had a tough home life and was pulled out of school in the 2nd grade and did not return until 7th grade.
She said she fought to keep up with her peers to learn the same subjects.
“When I was selected as a semifinalist, I didn’t expect this at all. I really never thought that me, somebody who missed out on five years of education, somebody who had a harsh home life and somebody just doing their best to succeed, would be honored on a national level,” Goeddert said.
Zervos is one of 14 students nationally and the only one in West Virginia to achieve the CTE Presidential Scholar. She was named among the top 1% of graduates at John Marshall High with a 4.57 GPA & 1490 on the SAT.
She is a standout athlete having earned first-team all-state honors in both cross country and soccer and participated on the swimming and track teams. At the end of 2020, she was honored with the WV High School Heisman Award. Zervos plans to run track at West Virginia University and major in aerospace engineering there.
She detailed her course work in Marshall County and credited teachers and the school system for challenging her with the high school’s engineering program. She wants to work at NASA one day.
“Because of this scholarship and winning the CTE aspect, which there were only 20 in the nation that won, made me realize in the engineering world I can go as far as I want and achieve as much as I want. Which is what I plan on doing at WVU when I major in aerospace engineering,” Zervos said.
Murphy, who was on a family vacation, maintained a 4.38 GPA while taking AP classes at Parkersburg South. His ACT score was in the top 1% in the United States and he maintained that level while participating in soccer, swimming and football at the school. He is also a pianist.
Murphy plans to attend Stanford University and major in chemical engineering.
Congratulations again to U.S. Presidential Scholars Kendra Goeddert of Greenbrier East High School; Nick Murphy of Parkersburg South High School; & CTE Scholar Zara Zervos of John Marshall High School. The future is very bright with students like you leading the way! ?? #WVEd pic.twitter.com/FOKkUE9u6Y
— West Virginia Department of Education (@WVEducation) June 9, 2021