Presidential Scholars Program

The United States Presidential Scholars Program is a program of the United States Department of Education. It is described as "one of the nation's highest honors for high school students" in the United States of America.^[1]

The program was established in 1964 by executive order of Lyndon B. Johnson, then the president of the United States to recognize the most distinguished graduating seniors for their academic achievements.^[2] In 1979, it was expanded to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was expanded once again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical fields.^[1]

Application for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only. Students may not apply individually to the program. The presidentially-appointed White House Commission on Presidential Scholars makes the final selection of up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars from among that year's senior class.^[3] All scholars are invited to Washington, D.C. in June the following year for presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a White House-sponsored ceremony.

Eligibility is set by the U.S. Department of Education. Students cannot apply to the program, and are nominated through screening criteria that are varies depending on the type of scholarship for which they are eligible.^[4]

All graduating high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who have scored exceptionally well on either the SAT of the College Board or the ACT Assessment of the American College Testing Program on or before October of each year are automatically considered for participation.^[5]

The United States Department of Education then examines the test records for the scoring students, ranks them separately for males and females, and selects the top 20 males and top 20 females in each state. Each Chief State School Officer (CSSO) may nominate up to ten male and ten female candidates, residing in the CSSO's jurisdiction, based on their outstanding scholarship.

Candidates are notified of eligibility, and if interested in being considered for the scholarship, must submit an essay, self-assessments, high school reports, and transcripts. They are evaluated on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay. 500 students are chosen as semifinalists. In March, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars makes the final selection of up to 161 Presidential Scholars.^[4]

To be eligible, students must have registered with and been active participants in the YoungArts program. 150 students are invited to apply by the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists. 60 YoungArts candidates enter the selection process at the semifinalist level. In April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars makes the final selection of up to 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts.^[6]

Nominations are submitted by each state's Chief State School Officer (CSSO). CSSOs can nominate up to five candidates who meet the requirements. In March, up to 60 candidates enter the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program selection process at the semifinalist level. In April, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars makes the final selection of up to 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education.^[4]

• Richard Alley (1976, Ohio) - geosciences professor at Pennsylvania State University
• Charles B. Chang (1999, New York) - linguistics professor at Boston University
• Patrick Chovanec (1988, Illinois) - business professor at Tsinghua University, former aide to Speaker of the House John Boehner
• Elizabeth Kiss (1979, Virginia) - eighth president of Agnes Scott College, first female Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford University and CEO of the Rhodes Trust
• Chris Morris (1988, New Hampshire) - business professor at MIT, former member of Council of Economic Advisers
• Kermit Roosevelt III (1989, District of Columbia) - author, law professor at University of Pennsylvania
• Elizabeth Thiele (1979, Massachusetts) Mass General - Director, Pediatric Epilepsy Program, Director, Carol and James Herscot Center for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
• Rakesh Goli - Radiologist

• Suzette Charles (1981, New Jersey) – Miss America 1984, singer and entertainer
• Claire Chase (1996, California) - flutist, composer, professor of music Harvard University, and winner of a MacArthur Fellowship
• Rita Dove (1970, Ohio) – Poet Laureate of the United States, winner of Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
• Ryan McCartan (2011, Minnesota) – actor and musician
• Ben Levi Ross (2016, California) – stage actor^[7]
• Desmond Richardson (1986) – dancer, co-founder of Complexions Contemporary Ballet
• Josh Singer (1990, Pennsylvania) – screenwriter^[8]
• Conrad Tao (2011, New York) – pianist, composer and violinist
• Dominique Thorne (2015, New York) – actress
• Matthew Wagener - Commodore, Producer

• Presidential Scholars Alumni Association
• 2024 Presidential Scholars (Forbes)