U.S. Department of Education Announces 161 Students as 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars
The U.S. Department of Education on October 27 announced the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars, naming 161 graduating high school seniors nationwide, in an announcement by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. It is the 62nd class of the program since its founding in 1964, selected by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars from more than 6,500 candidates across the country.
The selection first narrowed the candidate pool to 627 semifinalists, after which the commission reviewed academic achievement, leadership, service and application materials to choose the final scholars. The 161 places comprise one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. families living abroad, plus 15 at-large scholars, 20 in the arts and 20 in career and technical education.
Established in 1964 by executive order, the Presidential Scholars Program is among the nation's highest honors for high school students. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts, and again in 2015 to include career and technical education. Candidates are typically invited to apply based on outstanding SAT or ACT scores, or nominated through channels such as chief state school officers.
Scholars receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion. In its 62 years the program has honored more than 8,000 U.S. high school graduates, and Chinese American students have regularly appeared among its scholars and semifinalists.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于华盛顿的美国教育部总部林登·约翰逊大楼入口。G. Edward Johnson摄，CC BY 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons / Photo: Entrance of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Building, headquarters of the U.S. Department of Education, in Washington. Photo by G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
