JACKSON, Wyo. — One Jackson Hole High School (JHHS) and nine Jackson Hole Community School (JHCS) students have been selected as U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates.
The United States 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. Each year, up to 161 students are named as U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. The Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people. In honoring the U.S. Presidential Scholars, the President of the United States symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential.
Students have the opportunity to become U.S. Presidential Scholars based on three paths of accomplishment. The majority of the Scholars are selected on the basis of broad academic achievement. Approximately twenty students are selected on the basis of their academic and artistic scholarship in the visual arts, the performing arts, or creative writing. And approximately twenty additional students are selected on the basis of their ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
Each year over 4,500 candidates are identified for the component of the program that focuses on academic achievement and based on having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or the ACT. Eligible students are U.S. citizens and legal permanent U.S. residents graduating or receiving a diploma between January and August of the current program year, who have taken the SAT or ACT Assessment on or before the preceding October. Students meeting these requirements are automatically considered for participation. Initial inclusion in the pool of eligible candidates is determined by the information (e.g. graduation year) provided by the student on his/her SAT or ACT test registration. Also, each Chief State School Officer (CSSO) may nominate ten male and ten female candidates based on their outstanding scholarship, residing in the CSSO’s jurisdiction. Additionally, the program is partnering with several recognition organizations that will each nominate up to 40 candidates from their individual programs.
To confirm their interest and assist in the selection process, all candidates complete and submit candidacy materials for review, including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. A review committee of qualified individuals experienced in secondary and post-secondary education
“The Jackson Hole Community School is honored to announce that the following seniors have been selected as US Presidential Scholar Candidates,” JHCS said.
Tommy Berner
Josh Hansen
Marena Herr
Vivian Herr
Ryan Millham
Cannon Mueller
Max Peters
Madeline Webb
Ben Williams
Ally T. Smith – Jackson Hole High School
A full list of Presidential Scholar Candidates can be found here.
