U.S. Presidential Scholars

Background and Information

Since 1964 the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has recognized and honored over 8,000 outstanding high school seniors and encouraged high attainment among all students. Up to 161 students are named annually as U.S. Presidential Scholars. This recognition is one of the Nation's highest honors for high school students. Scholars are selected on the basis of broad academic achievement. 

Each PSU may nominate students for the General Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and as of 2025, Arts categories. From these LEA and Charter nominations, NCDPI may select and submit ten male and ten female candidates in the General Education category and five candidates each for Career and Technical Education and Arts categories.

For more information on the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program and the complete list of the announced 2026 candidates, select U.S Department of Education Presidential Scholars Program.

FAQs for Parents

Tab/Accordion Items

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and since that time, the program has honored over 8,000 outstanding high school seniors. The mission of the program is to recognize and honor outstanding high school seniors. For more information, select U.S. Presidential Scholars.

There is no monetary award/scholarship associated with this program. Each year, up to 161 students from across the country are named as Presidential Scholars. This recognition is one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.

  • Application for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only. Students may not apply individually to the program.
  • Students may be nominated by their Chief State School Officer and/or score exceptionally well on either the SAT of the College Board or the ACT of the American College Testing Program. For more information on the specific year window of tests accepted please select U.S. Presidential Scholars Eligibility.  

  • General Education
  • CTE
  • Arts 

2026 Nomination Process 

NCDPI will update this webpage with details for regarding the 2026 state level nomination process for PSUs once the timeline has been established by the U.S. Department of Education. It is also important to note that application for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only. Students may not apply individually to the program. Students may also not apply directly to NCDPI and may only be nominated through the process set forth by the Department of Education eligibility criteria. 

Congratulations to the 2025 North Carolina U.S. Presidential Scholars recipients! 

General Education Category

  • Nihar R. Kummetha from Concord - The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
  • Jiah Diana Lee from Winterville - The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

CTE Category 

  • Rachel G. Noble from Kinston - South Lenoir High School

To access a complete list of current and past U.S. Presidential Scholar award winners select U.S. Presidential Scholars Awards.

If you have any questions, please contact:

General Education category:  email Dr. Crissy Brown, Advanced Learning and Gifted Education

CTE category:  email Angela LeMay, Career and Technical Education

Arts category:  email Dr. Laura Stauderman, Office of Teaching and Learning

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