High School seniors can apply for Presidential Scholars Program

Idaho high school seniors interested in being nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program are encouraged to submit applications to the State Department by November 2nd, 2018.

The Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1064 by executive order of the president to honor some of the country’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 extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishments in career and technical education fields.

Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, which is considered one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

Seniors are automatically considered for participation if they graduate during this school year and scored exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT college admission test during the two-year window that started in September 2016 and runs through October 2018.

The U.S. Department of Education looks at records in each state and selects the top 20 male examinees and top 20 female examinees in each state as automatic candidates.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra may also nominate up to 10 other male candidates and 10 other female candidates from Idaho based on their outstanding scholarship.

Students who have not notified by the Presidential Scholars program of their eligibility and who would like to be considered for a nomination by Superintendent Ybarra should click here for details on how to submit an application.

Superintendent Ybarra also can nominate up to five students based on their accomplishments in career and technical education fields.

Those students should submit the same materials on the website but should make note in the self-assessment they are looking for the CTE nomination.

The arts component of the Presidential Scholars program does require participation in the YoungArts TM program and uses a separate selection process.

There are no superintendent nominations for this.

You can contact the YoungArts TM here for more information.

All graduating high school seniors currently enrolled in Idaho schools, and who are citizens of the United States or Legal Permanent U.S. residents are eligible.

Selected candidates will be sent application materials in February and in late March.

About 500 semifinalists will be chosen by an independent national committee of educators convened by the Commission on Presidential Scholars.

Six to 20 finalists are chosen for each state/jurisdiction by the review committee.

The number of semifinalists identified per state/jurisdiction is based on its proportionate number of test takers.

In April, the Commission of Presidential Scholars will make the final selection of 121 students, choosing one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad.

In addition to that 15 students are chosen at large.

If you would like to apply click here.

For more information on the YoungArts TM click here.