Iranian- American Ida Saki one of the 20 recipients of U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts award
The 18-year old Iranian American dancer and honor student Ida Saki is a resident of Dallas, Texas and has previously won prestigious awards such as the Senior Female Outstanding Dancer award from New York City Dance Alliance Nationals, and the 2007 TEEN MISS STARPOWER in Orlando, Florida. Ida recently wowed judges on the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" (attached video) but later surprised judges by stepping down from the final contest.
It now appears that Ida's main reason for quitting the TV show was her busy schedule - including dance practices of 20 hours a week- and being named as one of the 20 recipients (out of the three million high school graduates this year) of the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts award. This is one of the nation's most prestigious awards reserved for students who have "demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to school and community."
