U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year many students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

Awards

Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D. C. and the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House, in commemoration of their achievements. No scholarship money or cash prize is awarded for this program.

Nomination Process

If you are interested in being nominated for the general component award, please e-mail your resume, SAT/ACT scores, school transcript, and a Letter of Accomplishment to [email protected] by midnight on Friday November 1, 2019. This letter should out line your academic achievement (including awards), leadership positions, community service, and other examples of ability and accomplishment.

Students interested in the Arts Component can find more information here. Students will learn if they are finalists for this award by May 2020.

Eligibility Requirements

For the General Component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

  • are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline (Students who were not U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents on the day they took SAT or ACT exam, or who requested that The College Board or ACT not release their scores to outside entities, should contact the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program at 507-931-8345 to ensure their scores are considered in the determination of the candidate pool.);
  • graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2020, the current program year; and
  • score exceptionally well on either the SAT of the College Board or the ACT of the American College Testing Program, based on tests taken during the two-year window that begins in September, 2017 and runs through October, 2019, (for the recognition cycle concluding in June, 2020), nominated by Superintendent Kathy Hoffman or nominated by one of our partner recognition organizations based on outstanding scholarship.

For the CTE component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

  • are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline;
  • graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2020, the current program year;
  • demonstrate academic achievement in career and technical programs; and
  • are nominated by Superintendent Kathy Hoffman.

For the Arts component of the program, the nomination is run through the Young Arts National Arts Competition. Visit our Arts Education page for more information.

Congratulations to the 2018-2019 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program winners from Arizona:

  • Saaketh Ram-Rachakonda Narayan, Phoenix – BASIS Scottsdale Charter
  • Amy Zhou, Scottsdale – Scottsdale Preparatory Academy
  • Adrian Henry Kwiatkowski, Mesa – Red Mountain High School (CTE Winner)
  • Ruth Nyagaka, Gilbert – Williams Field High School (CTE Winner)