Montgomery Blair HS student is one of the 2 U.S. Presidential Scholars from Maryland for 2022

Two Montgomery County Public Schools students have been named as 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars by the U.S. Department of Education. Sarah Rachel Thomas of Clarksburg High School, and Dhruv Bhandarkar Pai of Montgomery Blair High School, are the two students selected from Maryland for 2022. Students are chosen by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars based upon their academic excellence, written essays, school evaluations and transcripts, and their community service and leadership records.

"Our 2022 Presidential Scholars represent the best of America, and remind us that when empowered by education, there are no limits to what our young people can achieve," U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement this morning. "Today, I join President Biden to celebrate a class of scholars whose pursuit of knowledge, generosity of spirit, and exceptional talents bring our nation tremendous pride. Throughout one of the most trying periods in our nation's history and amid our recovery from the pandemic, our students have once again demonstrated their strength and that they have so much to contribute to our country. Thanks to them, I know America's future is bright."

Montgomery Blair students rushed to hospital after eating pot-laced brownies at school

Eighteen months after Montgomery County leaders weakened marijuana laws, the drug is finding itself frequently in crime headlines in Bethesda, Rockville, and now Silver Spring. A Montgomery Blair High School student is under arrest, and two of his classmates were rushed to the hospital, after they consumed pot-laced brownies he sold them, police allege.

Montgomery County Police say William Conrad Keysar, 18, of the 2000 block of Queensguard Road in Silver Spring, has been charged with distribution of a controlled dangerous substance on school property. The police were contacted after a school resource police officer was alerted to the two girls' condition, which included an elevated heart rate.

In total, Keysar was charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, and two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance on school property.

The girls were released from the hospital the same day.