Cornell University's Merrill Presidential Scholars Program honored 37 Cornell undergraduate students this week, while also honoring the high school teachers and university faculty members who made important contributions to the students' lives.

Merrill Presidential Scholars are graduating seniors who have demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement, strong leadership ability and potential for contributing to society. Each spring semester, 36 scholars, representing approximately 1 percent of the graduating class, are named to receive this honor by the deans of each of Cornell's seven undergraduate colleges.

This year's honorees actually number 37 because one student, who was honored last year but was unable to attend because of an ongoing research project in China, is celebrating with this year's group.

Merrill scholars, in turn, recognize a high school teacher who most inspired their scholastic development, as well as a Cornell faculty member who most significantly contributed to their college education and experience.

The Merrill scholars and their teachers were recognized on campus this week, May 24 and 25. The high school teachers – including three high school teachers from Singapore – were brought to Cornell, as guests of the university, to participate in two days of events.

The Merrill Presidential Scholars Program is made possible by funding from Philip Merrill, Cornell Class of 1955. The STAR (Special Teachers Are Recognized) Scholarship, established in 1989 with support from the late Donald Berens and his wife, Margi Berens, both members of the Class of 1947, and supported through additional gifts from alumni and friends, honors the chosen high school teachers. A one-time $4,000 scholarship is established in each teacher's name for a financially needy Cornell student from the teacher's high school or geographical area.

The 2005 Merrill Scholars are listed below by college, with their hometowns, followed by the names of the secondary school teachers and the Cornell faculty members the students selected for recognition:

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Paul G. Bakken, Pittsford, N.Y.; James F. Shannon '71, Pittsford Mendon High School, Pittsford, N.Y.; Parfait Eloundou-Enyegue, assistant professor, Developmental Sociology.

Kathryn M. Bankert, Birmingham, Mich.; Joseph Ponczocha, Seaholm High School, Birmingham, Mich.; Cindy van Es, senior lecturer, Applied Economics and Management.

Marisa A. DeGaetani, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; Diane Travis, Lakeland Senior High School, Shrub Oak, N.Y.; Richard T. Curtis, lecturer, Applied Economics and Management.

Michael J. Dickstein, Middletown, N.Y.; Shirley Thompson, Middletown High School, Middletown, N.Y.; David Tat-Chee Ng, assistant professor, Applied Economics and Management.

Jacqueline P. Murphy, Ithaca, N.Y.; Stuart Dean, Lansing High School, Lansing, N.Y.; Christopher Barrett, professor, Applied Economics and Management.

Jack P. Muth, Middletown, N.Y.; Charles M. Brightly, Brookfield High School, Brookfield, Conn.; Alan W. Bell, professor and chair, Animal Science.

Jason E. Pike, Auburn, N.Y.; Gerard Martin, Auburn High School, Auburn, N.Y.; Thomas Fox, professor, Molecular Biology and Genetics.

Daniel B. Rubin, Floral Park , N.Y.; Geraldine Hapke, Floral Park Memorial High School, Floral Park, N.Y.; Christiane Linster, assistant professor, Neurobiology and Behavior.

College of Architecture, Art and Planning

Justin A. Doro, Ellicottville, N.Y.; William R. Keller, Williamsville East High School, East Amherst, N.Y.; Torben Berns, clinical associate professor, University at Buffalo (formerly a visiting professor).

Daniel A. Gass, St. Louis, Mo.; Ching-Ling Tai, St. Louis University High, St. Louis, Mo.; Nasrine Seraji, professor and chair, Architecture.

Kristin Laurel Perkins, Muncie, Ind.; Joseph G. Decaroli, Burris Laboratory School, Muncie, Ind.; Rolf Pendall, associate professor, City and Regional Planning.

College of Arts and Sciences

Allison S. Betof, Richboro, Penn.; Pamela E. Machemer, George School, Newtown, Penn.; Paul Beckwith, head coach, women's gymnastics.

Mary M. Burkhauser, Ithaca, N.Y.; Patti M. Wleklinski, Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse, N.Y.; Jonathan Culler, Class of 1916 Professor, Comparative Literature and English.

Jonathan D. Grossberg, Winnetka, Ill.; Linda L. Oddo, New Trier High School, Winnetka, Ill.; Dominick LaCapra, Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies, History.

Wee Lee Loh, Singapore, Republic of Singapore; Malani D'Cruz, Raffles Institution, Singapore; Francesca Molinari, assistant professor, Economics.

ShawnaKim Blake Lowey-Ball, Neptune Beach, Fla.; Janet Hall, Stanton Preparatory School, Jacksonville, Fla.; Vivienne Shue, professor, Contemporary Chinese Studies, Oriental Institute, University of Oxford (formerly professor, Government).

Saumya Manohar, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Margaret J. Ryder, MacLachlan College, Oakville, Ontario, Canada; Christopher R. Way, associate professor, Government.

Elidor Mëhilli, Tirana, Albania; Claire W. Miller, Stratford Senior High School, Houston, Texas; D. Medina Lasansky, assistant professor, Architecture.

Jessica K. Schiffman, Atlanta, Ga.; Lewis H. Cox, North Springs High School, Atlanta, Ga.; Jere D. Haas, Nancy Schlegel Meinig Professor of Maternal and Child Nutrition and director, Human Biology Program, Division of Nutritional Sciences.

Nicole C. Spruill, Raleigh, N.C.; Susen E. Douglass, Millbrook High School, Raleigh, N.C.; Sandra E. Greene, professor and chair, History.

William M. Tobenkin, Pacific Palisades, Calif.; Judith B. O'Hanlon, Brentwood School, Los Angeles; Dan McCall, professor, English.

Shahar Ziv, Ra'anana, Israel; Michelle Baker, Tenafly High School, Tenafly, N.J.; James B. Maas, S.H. Weiss Presidential Fellow and professor, Psychology.

College of Engineering

Brian S. Levine, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Deena Avigdor, Stuyvesant High School, New York; Rachel A. Davidson, assistant professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Setu Mohta, Gurgaon, Haryana, India; Marianne Cheong Swee Choo, National Junior College, Singapore, Republic of Singapore; Sandip Tiwari, professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering.

David M. Rimshnick, Branchville, N.J.; Mark A. Lago, Kittatinny Regional High School, Newton, N.J.; Leslie E. Trotter Jr., associate professor, Operations Research and Industrial Engineering.

Peter M. Rimshnick, Branchville, N.J.; David Wilson, Kittatinny Regional High School, Newton, N.J.; Robert G. Bland, professor, Operations Research and Industrial Engineering.

Daniel A. Warren, Great Neck, N.Y.; Michael Borut, John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School, Great Neck, N.Y.; David F. Delchamps, associate professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Yuk Yee Yau, Sunnyside, N.Y.; Anne Manwell, Stuyvesant High School, New York; Antje Baeumner, assistant professor, Biological and Environmental Engineering.

Yewen D. Ying, Taipei, Taiwan; James Kett, Singapore American School, Singapore; Rich Caruana, assistant professor, Computer Science, Computing and Information Science.

School of Hotel Administration

Lisa R. Ngai, Ferndale, Wash.; Mary L. Seilo, Ferndale High School, Ferndale, Wash.; Erica L. Wagner, assistant professor, Marketing, Information Systems, Strategy and Tourism.

Jessica S. Verde, Miami; Susan O'Connor, Coral Reef High School, Miami; A. Neal Geller, Robert A. Beck Professor of Hospitality Financial Management, Finance, Accounting and Real Estate.

College of Human Ecology

Melissa M. Iammatteo, Staten Island, N.Y.; Maria Molluzzo, St. Joseph Hill Academy, Staten Island, N.Y.; William Rosen, senior lecturer, Policy Analysis and Management.

Jessica L. Karp, Rotterdam Junction, N.Y.; Bronson L. Knaggs, Schalmont High School, Schenectady, N.Y.; James B. Maas, S.H. Weiss Presidential Fellow and professor, Psychology.

Jamie L. Osman, Elmont, N.Y.; Kieran Duffy, Sewanhaka High School, Floral Park, N.Y.; Jeffrey Sobal, associate professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences.

Thomas E. Wei, Niskayna, N.Y.; Joseph A. Carosella, Niskayuna High School, Niskayuna, N.Y.; Rosemary J. Avery, professor and director of undergraduate studies, Policy Analysis and Management.

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Roxanne G. Quist, Williston, Vt.; Lloyd Hulburd, Rice Memorial High School, South Burlington, Vt.; Gary W. Evans, professor, Human Development.

Donna L. Wankmueller, Great Neck, N.Y.; Lynn Sevan, Great Neck South High School, Great Neck, N.Y.; James A. Gross, professor, Labor Policy and Labor Arbitration.