U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

 

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

 

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by the 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, up to 161 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 (if applicable), school transcript, and a Letter of Accomplishment to [email protected]. This letter should outline your academic achievement (including awards), leadership positions, community service, and other examples of ability and accomplishment.

More information the 2021-22 Presidential Scholarship Program will be forthcoming.

 

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 2021, 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 four-year window that begins in September 2016 and runs through October 2020, (for the recognition cycle concluding in June 2021), nominated by their Chief State School Officer (CSSO) or nominated by one of our partner recognition organizations based on outstanding scholarship.

 

For the CTE component of the program, in addition to the general nominations, the national U.S. Presidential Scholar Program is also asking each state to nominate up to five additional students to be included as candidates for recognition for excellence in CTE. 

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:

  • All high school seniors who are participants of a CTE program graduating between January and August of 2022, the current program year;
  • who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public, parochial, or independent schools, as well as those who are home-schooled;
  • who demonstrate Academic Rigor, Technical Competence, Employability Skills, and Ingenuity and Creativity in career and technical education programs; and
  • are nominated by Superintendent Kathy Hoffman.

For more information go to:  https://www.azed.gov/cte/presidential

 

For the arts 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 2022, the current program year;
  • demonstrate academic achievement and talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts; and
  • participate in the National YoungArts Foundation's nationwide YoungArts program.

 

Congratulations to Arizona's U.S. Presidential Scholars Class of 2021 

Viraj  Mehta, Scottsdale - BASIS Scottsdale Charter

Suhani  Patel, Peoria - Mountain Ridge High School (U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education) 

Danielle  Sherman, Scottsdale - Desert Mountain High School