U.S. Presidential Scholars
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.
Student Eligibility
All seniors who will graduate between January and June of 2021 and who scored exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT college admission tests during the two-year window that begins in September 2018 and runs through October 2020, are automatically considered for participation. The U.S. Department of Education looks at test records in each state and the top 20 male examinees and top 20 female examinees are used to identify the automatic candidates in each state.
In addition, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra may nominate up to ten additional male and female Idaho candidates based on their outstanding scholarship, but who have not been automatically selected. Students who have not been notified by the Presidential Scholars program of their eligibility, and who would like to be considered for a nomination by Superintendent Ybarra should submit the items below.
Career and Technical Nomination
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 listed above but should note in the self-assessment they are seeking the CTE nomination. The self-assessment may wish to address some of the criteria listed in the Criteria for Candidate Identification and Nomination document of the U.S. Presidential Scholars program.
Please submit the following items no later than October 30th at 5pm MST. Please contact Karli Bennett at kbennett@sde.idaho.gov or (208) 332-6812 with questions.
Required Items:
- Student’s name.
- Student/parent/teacher email address (someone we can contact for missing information).
- Student's home mailing address.
- Student's high school.
- High school mailing address.
- High school CEEB code.
- An essay not to exceed 500 words describing what improvements they would make in some component of the educational system of the United States.
- A self-assessment describing their personal characteristics, leadership and service activities in their school and community, their academic achievements, and any special challenges or hurdles (if any) that the student has overcome while still achieving high academic success.
- A copy of their transcripts.
- A letter of recommendation from a high school counselor, principal, or teacher.
Additional Resources
The arts component of the Presidential Scholars program requires participation in the YoungArts™ program and utilizes a separate selection process. There are no superintendent nominations.
Contact the YoungArts™ program for more information.
For more details on the U.S. Presidential Scholars program, go to the U.S. Department of Education website.
Note: All graduating high school seniors currently attending schools in Idaho who are citizens of the United States, or are Legal Permanent U.S. Residents are eligible to apply.
All candidates selected by the Presidential Commission from the submitted nominees and automatic candidates will be invited by the commission to apply to the final selection part of the program in January 2021.