The 49th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars have been announced, and they include three students from southern Nevada.

The 141 students represent some of the best and brightest from around the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The 2013 Presidential Scholars for southern Nevada are Caolinn Y. Mejza, Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing & Visual Arts, Sharon T. Fang, Clark High School, Justin M. Joseph, Valley High School.

The awards are not just given for academic excellence but also for community service, leadership and a demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

The three students from southern Nevada were selected from the more than 3,000 candidates who qualified for the 2013 awards because of their scores on the SAT and ACT exams. A commission then reviewed applications and selected the scholars.

The program was founded in 1964 and since it was created has honored more than 6,000 students.

Earlier this week, senior Samantha Banz was given the Certificate of Commendation by City of Henderson Councilwoman Debra March.

The presentation took place at the annual GreenFest in honor of Earth Day at the Springs Preserve last week.

"She did a great job, and we are very happy, and feel very fortunate to have such a dedicated and wonderful daughter," Sonja Rogers-Banz, Samantha’s mother, said. "She shines inside and out."

Earlier in the year, Banz was invited, along with other members of CCSD's "green" Eco-Ambassador program, to speak in front of the CCSD Board of School Trustees. She spoke about the green movement at Liberty High School along with her experiences at the National Green School Conference in Florida.