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# U.S. Department of Education Announces 161 Students from Across the Country As 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars

# U.S. Department of Education Announces 161 Students from Across the Country As 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars

May 13, 2021

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona today announced the 57th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.

"The 2021 Presidential Scholars represent extraordinary achievements for our extraordinary times," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "I am delighted to join President Biden in saluting these outstanding young people for their achievements, service, character and continued pursuit of excellence. Their examples make me proud and hopeful about the future. Honoring them can remind us all of the great potential in each new generation and renew our commitment to helping them achieve their dreams."

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

Of the 3.6 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 6,000 candidates qualified for the 2021 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by Chief State School Officers, other partner recognition organizations and the National YoungArts Foundation's nationwide YoungArtsTM program.

As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 Scholars in the arts and 20 Scholars in career and technical education. 

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 7,600 of the nation's top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

The Presidential Scholars Class of 2021 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer.

A complete list of 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars follows and is also available at http://www.ed.gov/psp. 

***
U.S. Presidential Scholars Class of 2021
* Scholar for U.S. Presidential Scholar in Arts.

** Scholar for U.S Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.
Alabama
AL - Gregory T. Li, Spanish Fort - Alabama School of Mathematics and Science

AL - Soojin  Park, Auburn - Auburn High School
Alaska
AK - Alex  Prayner, Wasilla - Mat-Su Career and Technical High School

AK - Parker Emma Rabinowitz, Girdwood - Hawaii Preparatory Academy
Americans Abroad 
AA - Haddy Elie Alchaer, Beirut - International College

AA - Victoria Nicole Maniego Santos, Saipan - Mount Carmel High School
Arizona
AZ - Viraj  Mehta, Scottsdale - BASIS Scottsdale Charter

**AZ - Suhani  Patel, Peoria - Mountain Ridge High School

AZ - Danielle  Sherman, Scottsdale - Desert Mountain High School
Arkansas
AR - Alison Sue-Jeanne Jang, Bentonville - Bentonville High School

AR - Felix  Zhan, Fayetteville - Clark High School
California
*CA - Grace  Huh, San Jose - Lynbrook High School

CA - Donovan Julian Jasper, Granite Bay - Jesuit High School

CA - Eshani  Jha, San Jose - Lynbrook High School

*CA - Allison Sky Park, Sherman Oaks - Harvard-Westlake School

*CA - Arya  Pratap, Fremont - Saint Francis High School

*CA - Charlotte Dawn Sedaka, Sherman Oaks - Viewpoint School

CA - Diya Sarah Theodore, Riverside - Redlands High School

*CA - Parker  Van Ostrand, Sacramento - C. K. McClatchy High School

CA - Michael  Zhao, San Jose - Lynbrook High School
Colorado
*CO - Whitney Blue, Boulder - Fairview High School

CO - Nicole Yee Chen, Greenwood Village - Cherry Creek High School

CO - Kayson M Marler, Loveland - Loveland High School
Connecticut
CT - Rachel S. Brooks, Trumbull - Christian Heritage School

CT - Colin B. Speaker, Greenwich - Greenwich High School
Delaware
DE - Patrick Stratton Campbell, Wilmington - Brandywine High School

**DE - Rohan P Kanchana, Hockessin - Newark Charter Junior/Senior High School

DE - Risha  Kumar, Wilmington - Cab Calloway School of the Arts High School

DE - Reece Alexander Ratliff, Wilmington - Tower Hill School

**DE - Divita  Taduvayi, Bear - MOT Charter High School
District of Columbia
DC - Stephen Thomas Mirabello, Washington - School Without Walls

DC - Tess I Weinreich, Washington - The Potomac School
Florida
FL - Ellen  Choi, Melbourne - Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy

FL - Rohan R Davidi, Tallahassee - James S. Rickards High School

*FL - Jalynn Jaielle McDuffey, Miami - Coral Reef Senior High School

*FL - Is  Perlman, Miami Beach - Design & Architecture Senior High School

*FL - Stephen Adam Savage, Port St. Lucie - Savage Home School

**FL - Elyse V. Soracco, St. Johns - Creekside High School

*FL - Elyse Yvonne Thomas, Miami - School for Advanced Studies-Wolfson

**FL - Barrett Ryan Young, Branford - Branford High School
Georgia
GA - Aaron Daniel Altamirano Dino, Saint Marys - Camden County High School

GA - Divya  Nori, Roswell - Milton High School
Hawaii
HI - Joshua H. Park, Honolulu - Iolani School

HI - Cosette Ting-Hua Wu, Honolulu - Punahou School
Idaho
ID - Katherine E. Hebdon, Nampa - Skyview High School

ID - Jaston B. McClure, Moscow - Moscow High School
Illinois
IL - Sarah Aline McEvers, White Hall - North Greene High School

IL - Louis Peacemaker Mukama, Chicago - Phillips Exeter Academy

IL - Pavan Venkatesh Pandurangi, Palatine - William Fremd High School
Indiana
IN - Kobe  Chen, Fort Wayne - Homestead High School

IN - Zoe  Edwards, Carmel - Carmel High School
Iowa
IA - Dorothy M Junginger, West Des Moines - Valley High School

**IA - Molly Ann Niewoehner, Hawkeye - Sumner-Fredericksburg High School

IA - Lucas Ian Pierce, Nashua - Nashua Plainfield High School
Kansas
KS - Charles B. Horner, Overland Park - Shawnee Mission South High School

KS - Khushi  Kohli, Overland Park - Olathe North High School

KS - Aishani  Saxena, Stilwell - Blue Valley West High School
Kentucky
KY - Sarah  Belcher, Dorton - Pikeville High School

KY - Justin Michael Burch, Prospect - St. Xavier High School
Louisiana
LA - Eric Jaron Jones, St. Rose - Destrehan High School

LA - Ju-Woo  Nho, Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
Maine
ME - Devon Michael Hunter, Orrington - John Bapst Memorial High School

ME - Aislynn K Worden, Springvale - Sanford High School
Maryland
MD - Marvin  Li, Salisbury - James M Bennett High School

MD - Saanika  Mahashetty, Boyds - Richard Montgomery High School

**MD - Sahil  Patel, Waldorf - North Point High School

MD - Avinash J. Thakkar, Rosedale - Mcdonogh School

**MD - Kathy  Yao, Lutherville - Dulaney High School
Massachusetts
**MA - Julie A Canuto-Depina, Weymouth - Southeastern Regional Vocational-Tech High School

*MA - Maria Isabella Carpenter, Wenham - Governor Dummer Academy

MA - Caroline  Curran, Pocasset - Sturgis Charter School

*MA - Andrew  Harris, Concord - Middlesex School

*MA - Arden E. Lloyd, Amherst - Amherst Regional High School

MA - Ritvik Chandra Pulya, Acton - Acton-Boxborough Regional High School

MA - Kevin  Wen, Somerville - Somerville High School
Michigan
*MI - Calvin R. Hinds, Wayland - Interlochen Arts Academy

MI - Saaim Ali Khan, Troy - Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School

**MI - Andrea  Maizy, Warren - Center Line High School

MI - Shriya  Reddy, Northville - Northville High School

MI - Shriya S Yarlagadda, Grand Blanc - Grand Blanc Community School
Minnesota
*MN - Madelyn  Dietz, Saint Paul - Interlochen Arts Academy

MN - Lucas Scott Eggers, Rochester - Choate Rosemary Hall

MN - Esperanza  Lee, Saint Paul - Woodbury High School
Mississippi
MS - Emmanuelle Rachel Teng, Oxford - Oxford High School

MS - Matthew Landon Yin, Madison - Madison Central High School
Missouri
**MO - Justin David Eddy, Rocheport - David H. Hickman High School

MO - Janvi  Huria, Chesterfield - Marquette High School

MO - Sri  Jaladi, Creve Coeur - Parkway West High School

MO - Rohith K Ryali, Ballwin - Lafayette High School

**MO - Sydney Marie Stundebeck, Salisbury - Salisbury R-Iv High School
Montana
MT - Claire Anne Downing, Helena - Helena High School

MT - John Cody  Gilbert, Moore - Hobson Public School
Nebraska
*NE - Ramya  Iyer, Omaha - Westside High School

NE - Lucas G Niewohner, Herman - Tekamah-Herman High School

NE - Trishna Aishani Srikumar, Elkhorn - Brownell-Talbot School
Nevada
NV - Derek Lin Chien, Reno - Davidson Academy of Nevada

NV - Priyanka  Senthil, Reno - Davidson Academy of Nevada
New Hampshire
NH - Fahim  Ahmed, Goffstown - Goffstown Area High School

NH - Rebecca  Zhu, Nashua - Nashua Senior High School South
New Jersey
NJ - Youssef  Abdelhalim, Hillsborough - Hillsborough High School

NJ - Lara  Ozkan, River Edge - Bergen County Academies

NJ - Akhil C Paulraj, Plainsboro - West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North

*NJ - Katherine  Vandermel, Closter - Bergen County Academies
New Mexico
NM - Melinda Leyuan Modisette, Albuquerque - Albuquerque Academy

NM - Faris Irwin Wald, Santa Fe - Santa Fe High Sch South Campus
New York
NY - Julia K. Brand, Purchase - Riverdale Country School

NY - Owen M. Dugan, Sleepy Hollow - Dugan Home-School

NY - Shubh  Khanna, New York - Hunter College High School

NY - Kristen  Meola, New York - United Nations Internatl Sch
North Carolina
NC - Ijay  Narang, Charlotte - Ardrey Kell High School

NC - Nrithya P Renganathan, Cary - The North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics

NC - Pratyush  Seshadri, Cary - Raleigh Charter High School
North Dakota
ND - Dennis  Du, Grand Forks - Grand Forks Central High School

ND - Ellen Anna Gregoire, Larimore - Larimore Public High School
Ohio
OH - Maple  Buescher, Cleveland Heights - Cleveland Heights High School

OH - Aidan J Finn, Cincinnati - Saint Xavier High School

*OH - Kasey M. Shao, Cincinnati - Walnut Hills High School
Oklahoma
OK - Sean Michael Kuehn, Sand Springs - Charles Page High School

OK - Emily Jordan Benelli Ward, Locust Grove - Locust Grove High School
Oregon
OR - Kevin  Dai, Corvallis - Crescent Valley High School

OR - Kaitlyn J. Kim, Ashland - Ashland High School
Pennsylvania
PA - Catherine A. Cavanaugh, Lansdale - North Penn High School

PA - Richard Su Fang, Newtown - Council Rock High School

**PA - Raymond A. Slifer, Quakertown - Quakertown Senior High School
Puerto Rico
PR - Alejandra Sofía Lozada Santana, San Juan - Baldwin School of Puerto Rico

PR - Ricardo Shawki Marrero-Alattar, Dorado - St. John's School

**PR - Nicolas Taj Proskauer Valerio, Aguadilla - Ramey School
Rhode Island
RI - Brooke L Newbury, West Warwick - St Mary Academy - Bay View

RI - Eric  Tang, Providence - Wheeler School

RI - Erik Y. Wang, Providence - Phillips Academy
South Carolina
SC - Lily  Lassiter, Charleston - Academic Magnet High School

SC - Jacob T Price, Spartanburg - Spartanburg High School
South Dakota
SD - Riley James Nold, Sioux Falls - Washington High School

SD - Brooklyn Kate Pater, Sioux Falls - Sioux Falls Christian High School

SD - Samantha  Timanus, Gregory - Gregory High School
Tennessee
TN - Nelson D. Rose, Brentwood - Brentwood High School

TN - Seo Yoon  Yang, Signal Mountain - Signal Mountain Middle High School

*TN - Alora E Young, Brentwood - Hillsboro High School
Texas
*TX - Sarah Grace  Kimberly, Friendswood - The High School for Performing & Visual Arts

**TX - Sneha Sunil Shenoy, Spring - Klein High School

**TX - Christian  Tamez, Del Rio - Del Rio High School

TX - Labiba  Uddin, Frisco - Dr Justin Wakeland High School

TX - Derek Pan Wong, San Antonio - Keystone School
Utah
UT - Dallin Tyler Christensen, Pleasant View - Leadership Academy of Utah

**UT - Nathan Daniel Ford, Lehi - Cedar Valley High School

UT - Mahider  Tadesse, Salt Lake City - East High School
Vermont
VT - Theresa J. Christiansen, Richmond - Mount Mansfield Union High School

VT - John  Cotter, Mendon - Rutland High School
Virginia
VA - Shreya  Somayajula, Ashburn - Stone Bridge High School

VA - Jason  Wang, Vienna - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology
Washington
WA - William R. Murray, Bellevue - Lakeside School

WA - Tessa Claire Pierce, Newport - Newport High School

**WA - Molly Jane Williams, Clarkston - Charles F Adams High School
West Virginia
WV - Kendra S Goeddert, Maxwelton - Greenbrier East High School

WV - Nicholas G Murphy, Washington - Parkersburg South High School

**WV - Zara  Zervos, Moundsville - John Marshall High School
Wisconsin
WI - Neil Sai Dogra, Mequon - University School of Milwaukee

WI - Phoebe J. Jeske, Madison - Oregon High School

**WI - Amara Lynn Livingston, Buffalo City - Cochrane Fountain City High School
Wyoming
WY - Jessica L. Petri, Green River - Green River High School

WY - Siler J Weaver, Evanston - Evanston High School
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