Presidential Scholars Program

Presidential Scholars Program

The United States Presidential Scholars Program is "one of the Nation's highest honors for high school students" in the United States of America.

It was established in 1964 by executive order of the President of the United States to recognize and celebrate the most distinguished American graduating high school seniors. Each year, the United States Department of Education and the Presidentially-appointed White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects up to 141 students as Presidential Scholars: 121 in the academics and 20 in the arts.

Students chosen as Presidential Scholars are flown to Washington, D.C. in the summer after they graduate high school. During the National Recognition Week, they meet with government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists, businessmen, and past Presidential Scholars. During the week scholars have the opportunity to visit museums and monuments, frequent recitals and receptions, and attend ceremonies as guests of the Department of Education and the Executive Office of the President.

To commemorate their achievements, the Scholars are individually awarded the Presidential Medallion by the President of the United States in a ceremony at the White House. The Presidential Medallion is a hand-crafted, 1/4 inch 85/15 Bronze, 2.5 inch round medal. It is personally engraved with individual names; hand polished, and 24-carat gold plated.

In summary of the overall program, from the program's website, “By ages 16 and 17, these astonishing young people have not only succeeded in the highest possible level of high school academic rigor, but have also mastered multiple languages, worked for NASA and the Air Force Research Lab, played with the New York Philharmonic, volunteered and founded regional and national and international social service programs, conducted cutting-edge cancer research, issued scholarly papers, competed in the Olympics, placed in most major national and international competitions, and launched their own companies. They go on to attend the Nation’s top colleges and universities, and to exercise their gifts on behalf of our country and the world.”