Presidential Scholars

The U.S. Presidential Scholars program was established by executive order in 1964 to recognize some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts, and again in 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

Each school is invited to nominate up to 3 students (1 male and 1 female for general) and one student to be included as a candidate for recognition for excellence in CTE. We encourage you to nominate students who demonstrate outstanding scholarship but who might not otherwise be nominated through the current SAT/ACT, Arts, or CTE recognition processes.

All high school seniors graduating between January and August of 2024 who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public, parochial, or independent schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible.

Nominations for the 2024 Presidential Scholar program are now closed. Nominations for 2025 will open in the fall of 2024.

Six NH seniors named semi-finalists in 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

  • Sydney Buffett, Bedford High School, Bedford
  • Aaron R. Joy, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter
  • William Longtin, Hollis/Brookline High School, Hollis
  • Sam McLaughlin, Spaulding High School, Rochester
  • Sora Shirai, Hanover High School, Hanover
  • Kelly Zhang, Oyster River High School, Durham

2022 New Hampshire Presidential Scholars

  • Ke Nicole Du Hu, St. Paul's School, Concord
  • Vincent H. Xiao, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter
  • Lilia R. Potter-Schwartz, Portsmouth High School, Portsmouth

2021 New Hampshire Presidential Scholars

  • Fahim Ahmed, Goffstown, Goffstown Area High School
  • Rebecca Zhu, Nashua, Nashua Senior High School South 

2020 New Hampshire Presidential Scholars

  • Jeffrey Lam, Nashua, Nashua High School South
  • Claire Emily Reynolds, Nashua, Bishop Guertin High School

For more information, including eligibility and FAQs, visit the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.