Nicholas Spinale of Kalispell recently was named a 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholar.

Spinale, also a National Merit scholar, is one of 141 outstanding American high school seniors recognized this year. He graduated from Montana Academy in Marion on May 16 and is the school’s first Presidential Scholar. 

Prior to attending the academy, Spinale was enrolled at the Roxbury Latin School in Massachusetts.

Over the summer, Spinale will teach English in Masaya, Nicaragua, and, in his words, “master the exquisite art of blindfolded Rubik’s cubing.” 

In the fall, he plans to attend Carleton College in Minnesota where he will take classes in mathematics, computer science, linguistics and philosophy.

Presidential Scholars will be honored June 22-25 in Washington, D.C. 

The U.S. Presidential Scholars include a female and male student from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. families living abroad, in addition to 15 chosen at-large and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. Billings Central Catholic High School’s Kya Sorli was the female student selected for Montana.

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by President Barack Obama, selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

Each Presidential Scholar is given the opportunity to name an influential teacher who become part of the Presidential Scholar program’s Distinguished Teachers.

Spinale chose to recognize Philip Jones, an English and history teacher as well as principal at Montana Academy.

Jones said Spinale, a talented mathematician, showed a great deal of motivation and determination this year by challenging himself to take subjects that didn’t come easily, such as English.

“What impressed me so much was that he was able to step outside his comfort zone and take advanced English classes and figure out how to write lucid essays on literature — something very different for him,” Jones said. 

“He’s a mathematician who is interested in physics and engineering. He really challenged himself to be in my class and come to terms with writing,” Jones said. “His English scores went off the charts, along with math.”

Jones added that Spinale was involved in community service and outreach despite the school’s remote location. Spinale also had the patience to tutor fellow students, Jones said.

“He was more than willing to put his hand out to help a student struggling with math,” Jones said.

Spinale said he nominated Jones as a Distinguished Teacher because he deserved recognition for the work he does at Montana Academy.

“He’s a teacher, principal and an adviser of sorts. He does a lot of great work and I don’t think people know that outside of Montana Academy,” Spinale said. “He showed me that I could really get into subjects that weren’t math.

Local candidates considered for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program included Elise Byle and Devon Zander of Glacier High School and Montana Academy’s Alex Lee of Marion.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.