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, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.
Candidates are encouraged to apply for the honor; application deadline is Feb. 22, by 5 p.m. Semifinalists will be announced in mid-April, and scholars will be announced in early May. For questions, contact the application help desk at psp@scholarshipamerica.org or 507-931-8345.
Here are Iowa’s candidates for becoming U.S. Presidential scholars:
[*] Candidate for U.S. Presidential Scholar in Arts.
[**] Candidate for U.S Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.
[***] Candidate for U.S. Presidential Scholar and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
[****] Candidate for U.S. Presidential Scholar and U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.
Pashmina S. Afridi, George Washington High School, Cedar Rapids
Henry A. Allard, Valley High School, West Des Moines
Luke A. Auderer, Ankeny Centennial High School, Ankeny
Nick A. Barber, Waverly-Shell Rock High School, Waverly
Grace E. Bedia, Valley High School, West Des Moines
Jack R. Beecher, Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls
Justin W. Berlage, Decorah High School, Ridgeway
Maximilian V. Berry-Stoelzle, City High School, Iowa City
Julianne Binto, Pleasant Valley Community High School, Bettendorf
Miles T. Borgstadt, Valley High School, West Des Moines
George Bourgeous, Prairie High School, Fairfax
[**] Grant C. Boyd, Central Decatur Junior-Senior High School, Leon
[****] Eshaan S. Chandani, Johnston High School, Johnston
Nathan Chen, West High School, Coralville
Fanshuo Cheng, West High School, Iowa City
Kael M. Christensen, Indianola High School, Indianola
Maya Chu, West High School, Iowa City
Henry A. Dai, West High School, Iowa City
Sarah I. Deschamps, Valley High School, West Des Moines
Anita Dinakar, Johnston High School, Grimes
David Dong, Ames High School, Ames
Noah Egge, Liberty High School, North Liberty
Tyler Emanuel, Valley High School, Clive
Thomas Ferguson, Mt Vernon Community High School, Mount Vernon
Clara D. Fields, Ames High School, Ames
Elizabeth K. Foreman, Marian High School, Missouri Valley
Leo D. Friedman, Newton High School, Newton
[**] Alaina M. Gebel, Waukon High School, Lansing
Lillian Graham, West High School, Iowa City
Claire X. Gu, Valley High School, West Des Moines
Aarushi Gupta, Johnston High School, Johnston
Tejas K. Gururaja, Linn-Mar High School, Cedar Rapids
Cora J. Harvey, Hempstead High School, Dubuque
Gretchen A. Highberger, Pleasant Valley Community High School, Bettendorf
Shobini S. Iyer, Pleasant Valley Community High School, Bettendorf
Alan R. Kang, Johnston High School, Johnston
Kiersten J. Knobbe, Guthrie Center High School, Guthrie Center
Anish Lodh, West High School, Coralville
Eric T. Lucas, Liberty High School, North Liberty
Hailie A. Lukasik, Hempstead High School, Dubuque
Grace V. Lutat, Estherville Lincoln Central HS, Estherville
Sydney A. Madetzke, Ankeny High School, Ankeny
Akshat Mehta, Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls
Isabelle C. Nau, Valley High School, West Des Moines
Lily E. Nelson, Valley High School, Clive
[**] Sanya Oli, Linn-Mar High School, Marion
Sarah Park, Ames High School, Ames
Melody J. Rages, Pleasant Valley Community High School, Bettendorf
Maxwell K. Rantilla, Bettendorf High School, Bettendorf
Grace Rasmussen, Marshalltown Senior High School, Marshalltown
Ashley J. Seo, West High School, Coralville
Lydia Shin, West High School, Iowa City
Peter J. Simpson, Grinnell Community Senior High School, Grinnell
[**] Kyle Stafford, Creston High School, Creston
Konner S. Struik, Western Christian High School, Hull
Joe Su, Valley High School, West Des Moines
Anagha R. Sudhindra, Pleasant Valley Community High School, Bettendorf
Timothy C. Sullivan, Dowling High School, Urbandale
Pranav B. Suresh, Pleasant Valley Community High School, Bettendorf
Nyah S. Thomas, Prince of Peace College Preparatory, Clinton
Rosemary Timmer-Hackert, West High School, Coralville
Madhav S. Valiyaparambil, Northwest High School, Urbandale
Grace Y. Wang, Liberty High School, Coralville
Alaina Whittington, Diagonal Jr-Sr High School, Diagonal
Catherine X. Yang, West High School, Iowa City
Kangnan Ye, Regina High School, Iowa City
Aharon Zingman, Liberty High School, Iowa City
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