PROVIDENCE — Two students, one from Cumberland High School and one from Classical High School in Providence, have been recognized as Presidential Scholars, one of the country’s highest honors for high school students.

The recipients, Matthew E. Baglini of Cumberland and Leia M. Dwyer of Classical, returned on Wednesday after a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., where they were honored by Vice President Joe Biden.

Each year 141 students from across the United States are recognized for their excellence in education and leadership skills. While in Washington, the students participated in seminars, lectures and workshops with government officials, educators, authors, scientists and others; performed community service and attended cultural events in their honor.

Baglini, 17, the son of Susan and Joseph Baglini of Cumberland, said that the highlight of his trip was speaking with Biden.

“I talked to him about being a Catholic and being in politics,” Baglini said, “and he said it was possible to reconcile your beliefs with the practical world.”

The scholars attended speeches given by Arne Duncan, U.S. education secretary, and Fred Beuttler, deputy historian of the U.S. House of Representatives. And they were honored during a special ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Baglini, who plans on becoming a pilot, leaves for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on June 30.

Dwyer, who plans on attending the University of Connecticut, where she will major in biomedical engineering, recently received the Gold Award from the Girls Scouts, the highest honor possible in scouting.

Of her trip to Washington, she said, “The best part was the variety of people you meet. They were not only gifted academically, but they had a distinct eye toward service. We all want to take what we do in school and give it back somehow.”

Dwyer, 17, spent her last year in high school researching the efficacy of therapeutic riding, which she says has been proven to help children with a variety of disabilities.

lborg@projo.com