Academy at the Lakes student Walter Levy ’27 was among just 173 students nationwide selected to compete in the Regional Semifinals of the Presidential 1776 Award Competition, a national civics competition administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
More than 8,000 high school students from across all 50 states and territories participated in the competition’s qualifying “Impossible Civics Test.” Walter earned one of the top scores in Florida, advancing through the initial round and placing him among the highest-performing students in the country.
He competed in the Regional Semifinals at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, one of five presidential library sites nationwide that hosted top students from across their respective regions.
“Walter is not only one of our top students academically, he is deeply engaged in the life of the school and brings a strong sense of responsibility to everything he does,” said Head of School Mark Heller. “He approaches complex ideas with curiosity and a willingness to consider multiple perspectives, and he consistently elevates the learning environment for those around him. Competitions like this are a natural extension of who he is as a student and as a leader. I have no doubt he will continue to make a meaningful impact in his community and in public life.”
The Presidential 1776 Award Competition is a nationwide initiative of the U.S. Department of Education recognizing exceptional student understanding of civics and the principles that shaped the United States.
Walter’s selection to compete at the regional level reflects both his academic strength and a strong commitment to understanding the foundations of American government.
