Eight Gwinnett County Public Schools students have been named candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, the U.S. Department of Education announced.

READGwinnett JROTC leader resigns after 'inappropriate comments' reported

Up to 161 students receive the designation of U.S. Presidential Scholar each year. Hundreds of students have been named candidates for 2018, and the final list of scholars will be announced sometime in May, according to the Education Department's website.

Presidential Scholars are recognized in a White House ceremony, typically attended by the president of the United States, and awarded a medallion.

Here are Gwinnett County’s Presidential Scholar candidates:

• Andy T. Chea, Lawrenceville, Central Gwinnett High School

• Kaitlyn G. Choe, Lawrenceville, Discovery High School

• Esther Choi, Suwanee, North Gwinnett High School

• Matthew J. Kim, Lawrenceville, Mountain View High School

• Ruby C. Lee, Lawrenceville, Brookwood High School

• Gabrielle Loyd, Duluth, Peachtree Ridge High School

• Paul M. Matesevac, Lawrenceville, Collins Hill High School

• Dhaivat M. Mehta, Norcross - Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology

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The JROTC instructor at Parkview High School has resigned, Gwinnett County Public Schools said. Maj. Ron Tootle, who had been with the school for nearly eight years, resigned, said a spokeswoman. She said a Title IX and HR investigation had been opened after multiple students reported "inappropriate comments." The comments allegedly "made students feel uncomfortable."