North DSM News

The Johnston City Council recently recognized four seniors from Johnston High High School who were chosen as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program.

“I was sitting at home maybe a couple three or four weeks ago at about 9 at night,” Mayor Paula Dierenfeld said. “And I get this email from the Johnson School District saying, ‘You need to be aware of this. We have four students that have been selected to be candidates for the 2023 U.S. President Presidential Scholars program.’ I couldn't believe it. And I immediately responded to that email and I said, we got to get them to the Johnston City Council and we need to recognize them.”

The candidates, Aarushi Gupta, Eshaan S. Chandani, Anita Dinakar and Alan R. Kang, were brought before the City Council to be recognized. Dierenfield asked them about the process for the program, and the students told her that they needed to write a series of essays and gather recommendations from teachers. Students then shared their involvements and future plans, which had a wide range that included biology, psychology, social justice, computer science, environmental science, engineering and social equity.

There are only 5,000 candidates out of 3.6 million high school students across the country chosen, with only 64 from Iowa, showing how prestigious of an honor it is. There will be 161 winners named in June, which will include a scholarship.

Also at the meeting, the City Council swore in the city’s newest police officer, Nick Collins. Collins, who started on Jan. 30, was a lateral transfer officer who came from Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office in Colorado. He was born and raised in the area and after graduation entered the Navy, where he served for eight years. He became a combat medic for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group’s East Coast Special Operations and then was honorably discharged. Collins worked as a park ranger and has EMT certification, and has associates degrees in science and political justice. Police Chief Dennis McDaniel is confident Collins will be a great addition to the department and an asset to the community.

“He is coming home to build his career,” McDaniel said.

“You have certainly lived up to our expectations, and the chiefs and the community’s as well," Dierenfeld said. "I want to welcome you here and I look forward to working with you.”