Rye Brook Resident Named Cornell Merrill Presidential Scholar

RYE BROOK, NY — Three Westchester residents, including one from Rye Brook, were recently honored by Cornell University as Merrill Presidential Scholars — outstanding graduating seniors in the top 1 percent of their class. Adam Riesenfeld of Rye Brook, Lauren Prisco of Pound Ridge and Frederick Kauber of Pleasantville were selected by their college deans for their intellectual vigor, leadership skills and potential to help society.

Additionally, the scholars are given an opportunity to recognize the high school teacher who most inspired their scholastic development.

Riesenfeld honored his high school science teacher Julie Hensley; Prisco, her high school science teacher Hillary Dowling, and Kauber, his high school English teacher James Kennedy.

To further commend the high school teachers chosen by the Merrill Presidential Scholars, a one-time $4,000 scholarship is awarded in the teachers’ names to incoming Cornell freshmen or current students with financial need from the teacher’s high school or geographic area.

The scholars’ high school teachers are invited to Cornell for two days of events as guests of the university. The high school teachers are joined by the Cornell faculty members, also chosen by the seniors.