Jonathan Owen has been named a candidate for the 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

The recognition comes after Owen received a perfect score of 1,600 on the SAT. Despite his outstanding achievement Owen remains humble.

“I got very lucky,” said the Bainbridge High School senior.

“Bainbridge is a community of very high achievers, we have a lot of kids at our school who deserve to do very well at academics and do do well at academics,” Owen said.

In the future, Owen plans to go to college and later aspires to attend grad school, studying microbiology or chemistry. His top picks are Montana State University, Cornell University and the University of Washington, with UW claiming the throne as his first choice.

The U.S. Presidential scholars program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership, and service to school and community.

“There are definitely a lot of people worthy of it,” Owen said.

“I’m very happy to have gotten it and I’m definitely going to enjoy the gifts I was given and use them for the betterment of other people. I just don’t want it to seem like it’s something really exclusive that only I deserve, that’s just not the way it is.”

A distinguished panel of educators will review these submissions and select 800 semifinalists in early April. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 eminent citizens appointed by the president, will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the scholars in May.