Massapequa High School Senior Alec Slatky has been recognized for excellence in leadership, citizenship, artistry and academics by the United States Education Department.

Slatky is one of only two students on Long Island and 139 nationwide to receive the most prestigious distinction of 2008 Presidential Scholar. Alec received flawless scores on both the SAT and ACT exams, which was considered highly in the U.S. Education Department's decision-making process.

Alec submitted his high school transcript, letters of recommendation, and an essay on an influential person to compete against the 3,000 other students his age who were vying for this year's Presidential Scholar title.

A self-described "political junkie," Alec chose to write about Ralph Nader. "I figured most people would write about their parents, so I decided to do something out of the ordinary," Alec stated. Alec will attend Princeton University this fall, where he will begin a course of study to prepare for a career in pediatric medicine.