United States Presidential Scholars Program
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Congratulations to all of our DoWEA seniors who have been nominated for the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program!
The Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) participates in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program annually to honor students in the General and CTE Categories. Administrators from each region nominate outstanding high school students who are graduating.
Congratulations to the 2026 DoWEA Semifinalist Candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program!
| Candidates | School Name | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Zoe E. Hildebrandt | Brussels | DoWEA Europe - Europe West |
| Jude A. Cutler III | EJ King Middle High School | DoWEA Pacific - Pacific East |
| Gaby Velasco | EJ King Middle High School | DoWEA Pacific - Pacific East |
| Sage Emaline Bunnell | Kubasaki High School | DoWEA Pacific - Pacific South |
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 nominees from each region must have a resume and an essay. The resume includes the following:
- Contact information
- GPA and ACT or SAT scores
- Involvement and service (in school and community)
- Leadership and character
- Academic achievements
Essay Focus – Why the student believes he/she deserves to be a Presidential Scholar (extraordinary achievement, heavy workload, family responsibilities, or obstacles they have overcome).
In addition to the above criteria, nominees for the U.S. Presidential Scholar in CTE are evaluated on the following standards:
- Academic rigor
- Technical competence
- Employability skills
- Ingenuity/Creativity/Problem Solving
- Late January: Application cycle launched with candidate invitations
- Late February: Application Deadline
- Mid-April: Semifinalists announced
- June: Scholar Announcement
- Late June: Scholar recognition
For more information, visit the Department of Education website at U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
For DoWEA students and parents with any questions, please contact your school counselor.
