THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

           PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES RHONDA WALTERS AS A MEMBER 
               OF THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS

The President today announced his intent to appoint Rhonda Walters as a member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars.

Mrs. Rhonda Walters, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, served as the First Lady of Oklahoma while her husband served as Governor from 1991 to 1995. As Oklahoma's First Lady, she promoted the Statewide Public Awareness Campaign on Children's Issues which included the highly successful immunization campaign, "Due By Two", which helped spur a 40% increase in immunization in Oklahoma children under two years of age. In addition she co-chaired the Oklahoma Parents As Teachers Planning Council, a free and voluntary early-learning program for parents with children ages birth to three years. She also served as Honorary State Co-Chair of the Oklahoma Federation of Parents' Red Ribbon Campaign, an effort to make our schools drug-free.

Mrs. Walters has been active in Oklahoma business, education, and children's advocacy for over fifteen years. She has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy, the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum, the City Arts Center, the Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy, and the Children's Medical Research Foundation, Inc. In 1993, Mrs. Walters was inducted into the Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

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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