THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                        (Whiteman AFB, Missouri)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                      June 11, 1999

           PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES THOMAS E. BRITTON AS CHAIR 
           AND DAVID A. KESSLER AND JUDITH R. OLSON AS MEMBERS 
               OF THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS

The President today announced his intent to appoint Thomas E. Britton as Chair and David A. Kessler and Judith R. Olson as members of the Commission on Presidential Scholars.

Mr. Thomas Britton, of Troy, New Hampshire, has a strong background in the high technology business market and in local education initiatives. Currently, he is a marketing representative with the Millipore Corporation, a Fortune 500 company and supplier to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. He began his career at Millipore in 1980 as a manufacturing assembler. He has been a member of the Presidential Scholars Commission since 1993. Mr. Britton is the former Chair of the Monadnock Region District School Board. He received a B.A. degree from the University of New Hampshire and an M.A. degree from the Maxwell School of Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

Dr. David Kessler, of Woodbridge, Connecticut, is currently the Dean of the Yale University School of Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Public Health. From 1990-1997, Dr. Kessler served as Commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration. Previously, he was the Medical Director of the Hospital of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is the author of a number of articles, holds positions on numerous boards, and is the recipient of many honorary degrees. Dr. Kessler received a B.A. degree from Amherst College, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and a J.D. degree from the University of Chicago Law School.

Ms. Judith Olson, of Rapid City, South Dakota, is currently the Community Education Director at the Black Hills Special Services Cooperative. She was named Educator of the Year in 1991, was named as one of the most 100 influential volunteers in South Dakota, and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Big Sisters/Big Brothers program. She was elected to the State Senate from 1989-1993, where she served on the Education committee and was a member of the Governor's Task Force on Child Care. In addition, she is a former President of the South Dakota State Board of Education. She is the only South Dakotan to be accredited in school public relations. Ms. Olson received a B.A. from the University of Arizona and a Masters in Education Administration degree from South Dakota State University.

The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize our Nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Annually, up to 141 students are chosen from among outstanding graduating seniors to become Presidential Scholars. They are chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas, including academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement in school and community.

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