WOODSTOCK VALLEY, Conn. -- Senior Dan Mitra is going to miss his high school graduation, but he said he's not too upset, because he has an appointment with the president.

Mitra, of Woodstock Valley, said he lives for -- and loves to -- dance.

"I love learning modern, love learning ballroom, salsa, African," he said.

And even though he enjoys a lot of different dance styles, he said he focuses on his favorites, such as hip hop and tap.

His talent has even earned him a special honor.

"Well, Daniel was selected as a presidential scholar," said Richard Foye, headmaster of Woodstock Academy.

"It's pretty exciting," Mitra said.

Across the U.S., 141 students have been named presidential scholars, but only 20 receive the honor for the combination of academics and their accomplishments in visual and performing arts.

"It is such, such a privilege to be one of 20 presidential scholars in the arts, and one of two dancers," said Ann Mitra, Dan's mother.

Dan Mitra said he took up dance when he was little.

"I've been tap dancing and doing ballet since I was 3," he said.

"Him being a munchkin," Ann Mitra said. "This was 'The Wizard of Oz,' in the purple costume. He really enjoyed that, and that was the beginning of his performances."

After that, she said, "he blossomed. He never wanted to quit, and he stayed with it, and to do that over all those years, you really have to enjoy it."

And being a presidential scholar comes with some presidential privileges.

"I definitely get to meet Barack or Michelle (Obama) -- President Barack or first lady Michelle -- at the White House for a medallion ceremony," Dan Mitra said.

He said he'll also get to perform some hip hop and tap at the Kennedy Center.

The events in Washington, D.C., will be held between June 12 and 24, Ann Mitra said, which means "he, unfortunately, will be missing graduation."

At the moment, Mitra said, he unsure of whether he'll go off to college or straight into the dance world after getting his diploma. Either way, he said, he sees a future in dance.

"Whatever jobs I get, I love teaching, I love performing," he said. "I would love being a back-up dancer when touring across the country or across the world. Basically, any facet of the arts, basically, I want to indulge myself in."

Two other Connecticut students were also named presidential scholars for 2009: Alyssa Bilinski, from Joel Barlow High School in Redding, and Emmett Gilles, of Conard High School in West Hartford.

For a full list of presidential scholars, click here.