Nashua student named Presidential Scholar

By Bob Fenske, Nashua Reporter

Caleb Lines worked hard at not getting his hopes up, but he admitted he was a little nervous as he headed to school Tuesday morning.

That was the day the U.S. Department of Education would announce the 2018 President Scholars.

“I’m not going to lie, I was nervous and I kept telling myself, it’s pretty cool being a semifinalist,” Lines said. “Not that I didn’t want it, but still … I didn’t want to be disappointed.”

There was no need for the nerves as sometime around noon Lines found out he is one of 161 students from across the nation and just one of three from Iowa to earn the prestigious honor.

“Let’s just say I got a little excited,” he said with a laugh. “OK, I probably got a lot excited. I’m still having a hard time believing it.”

He wasn’t the only one dealing with butterflies Tuesday morning.

“When I saw the announcement had been made, I almost didn’t want to open the list,” said Suzy Turner, a Nashua-Plainfield teacher who wrote an essay in support of Lines’ nomination.

“We wanted this so badly for him,” she said. “Caleb possesses exceptional motivation, academic aptitude and the work ethic necessary to excel at college. He will assuredly utilize his academic opportunities to attain career success as a scientist working to alleviate global food insecurity.”

Lines plans on attending Wartburg College in Waverly, where he will major in biochemistry.

His high school career — both in and out of the classroom — has been, in a word, stellar.

The son of Dean and Sherri Lines, he has been involved in numerous extra-curricular activities, including cross country, basketball, band, National History Day, FFA, 4-H, National Honor Society, Future Problem Solvers and Student Council.

And he said Tuesday he is appreciative of the fact that he hails from a small school district.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from,” Lines said, “if you’re willing to put the work in and put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. I’ve been blessed with the school system I’ve had. Without the help from Mrs. Turner, all my other teachers and my parents, I know this wouldn’t be possible. In a bigger school, you don’t have that personal connection that we get here.”

The latest accolade means Lines will certainly have a hectic June.

He, along with 10 other Nashua-Plainfield students, will compete at the National History Day contest in the Washington, D.C., area June 10-14, and on June 18 he will return to Washington for a week of U.S. Presidential Scholar activities.

But the travel plans could wait on Tuesday.

“I’ve had a chance to do a lot of cool things,” he said, “but finding out this — this ranks right up there.”