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Washington • President Barack Obama has appointed former Utah Sen. Ross Romero to serve as a member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars, a panel that annually chooses students to honor for their accomplishments in academics, the arts and public service.
Romero, who lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for Salt Lake County mayor in 2012, is the vice president of the Community Development Group at Zions Bank. The White House announced Romero's appointment with five others to various government organizations.
"The talent and expertise these individuals bring to their roles will serve our nation well," Obama said in a statement. "I am grateful for their service, and look forward to working with them."
The commission reviews applications from nearly 4,000 graduating high school students annually seeking the honor of being a presidential scholar. A young man and a young woman are chosen from each state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 picked for their contributions to the arts.