By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer

ROSEBOOM — Cherry Valley- Springfield senior Maggie Millner has her fingers crossed in hopes she will be invited to Washington, DC.

The 17-year-old from Roseboom was recently named one of 60 Presidential Scholar and the Arts candidates as part of the 2009 Presidential Scholars Program. Candidates were nominated from over 6,500 participants in the annual youngARTS competition conducted by the National Foundation for Advancement in Arts.

Millner has about a one out of three chance of being selected as a finalist. If chosen, she will receive an all-expense paid trip to the capital where she would spend several days in June meeting with government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and other accomplished people. She would also have the opportunity to visit museums and monuments and attend recitals.

``I would probably be able to meet President Obama, and that would be really exciting because I am a big fan,’’ said Millner. Millner said she would also get the chance of a lifetime— to perform some of her poetry at the Smithsonian, where her work would also be put on display.

``That would just be amazing,’’ said Millner.

The Presidential Scholar Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.

In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts.

Each year, 141 Scholars, including up to 20 Scholars of the Arts nominees, are selected based on superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and in- volvement in school and community activities.

This year, over 3,000 students are eligible for the program’s academic component, based on outstanding scores on the SAT or ACT exam. Of these, 121 will be selected as Presidential Scholars.

The 60 arts candidates were selected for their exceptional performance in the disciplines of dance, film/video, instrumental music, jazz, voice, photography, theater, visual arts and creative writing.

According to Millner, she was nominated based on her creative writing skills and her character while attending the youngARTS week-long program held in Miami in January.

While there, Millner said she was interviewed, displayed her portfolio and preformed some of her poetry during poetry readings.

Millner, said she applied for the program on a whim, and was ``pretty excited’’ when selected. This was also an expense-paid trip.

Not only does Millner write poetry, but she says she also enjoys writing nonfiction, and short stories.

She said she would eventually like to write novels, when the time is right.

Writing has been a passion of Millner’s since a young age. She started writing at the age of 5 and would dictate stories to her mom even before she could use a pen and notebook. According to Millner, most of her inspiration has come from reading work by poets such as Pablo Neruda, Adrienne Rich and Louise Gluck. She said her parents, Barbara Sepp and Bob Millner, have also been very supportive of her writing. Millner said her mom has been like a personal manager because she is the one responsible for finding scholarship and poetry contest opportunities. Millner said she has won eight awards in poetry contests held across the nation — receiving first place honors in three.

Being accepted into the youngARTS Program has been Millner’s biggest accomplishment, according to her. She said winning the Bennington Young Writers Competition is next on her list of achievements. First place winners are awarded $500.

Millner said she has been accepted into Brown University through the early decision acceptance program. She said she plans to major in literary arts with a concentration in creative writing.

Semifinalists will be announced early in April and finalists will be selected in May.