Seniors Michael Galperin and Thomas Brown have been chosen as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, taking place in Washington D.C. this summer.

The U.S Presidential Scholars Program is a program that was created in 1964 by executive order of President Lyndon B. Johnson to recognize and honor graduating high school seniors who have particularly excelled in their education.

“They give you an all expenses trip to Washington D.C and you get to meet President Obama,” Galperin said. “You are just kind of commended for your achievements.“

While in Washington D.C., those who have been selected to be a part of the program will meet with government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists, businessmen and former Presidential Scholars. As guests of the Department of Education the Scholars will visit museums, monuments, recitals, receptions and ceremonies. Obama will also award each scholar with the Presidential Medallion: a hand crafted, bronze medal engraved with their name.

Currently Galperin and Brown are candidates and are not guaranteed to be a part of the program in the end. After first narrowing it down to 3000 candidates, only 140 are selected as final members of the program, Galperin said.

According to Galperin, the  candidate selection process is based on standardized test scores. Galperin and Brown both received a score of 36 on their ACT a score, which qualified them for the program.

Galperin and Brown were both honored by their nomination.

“I was really excited,” Brown said. “I mean, it’s really selective, even just being nominated to apply is really selective, so it was an honor just to get asked to apply.”

Galperin said he feels the program is a great way to recognize academic achievements of high school students.

”It demonstrates that, to the people who are chosen, that their achievements don’t go unnoticed,” Galperin said. “And it’s a nice way of rewarding people who have done hard work in high school.”

Neither Galperin nor Brown knew of any other GBS student who participated in this program before.

“It’s tough odds, and pretty much every candidate is really smart, so it’s like no one there doesn’t deserve it,” Brown said. “So it’s a bit of a long shot.”

The Presidential Scholars Program is tentatively scheduled for June 16 through June 19. Semi-finalists are chosen in late March. Galperin and Brown expect to hear back about their applications and their final eligibility for the program in April.