The candidates have been announced for the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, the nation’s most prestigious recognition program for high school seniors. The award is an honor and title that sticks with students (and appears on their resumes) for the rest of their lives. 

Naturally, you may be wondering how the program works and how you can become one. Well, you’re in the right place. 

What is the Presidential Scholars Program? 

Started by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, the Presidential Scholars Program is an annual award program run by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the U.S. Department of Education, which recognizes 161 of the nation’s most outstanding graduating high school seniors. 

Students can be recognized in one of three ways. They can be selected as a “U.S. Presidential Scholar,” a “U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts,” or a “U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.” 

The program is a recognition program, not a scholarship program. Those who receive the award are not given any money. 

Winners receive an expense-paid trip to Washington D.C., where they will receive medallions during a ceremony sponsored by the White House. While in Washington D.C., scholars are also awarded the opportunity to interact with government officials, educators, musicians, authors, scientists, and other important national and international figures. They attend events that celebrate their honor and are able to visit the city’s museums and monuments. 

This year’s recognition events are tentatively scheduled for June 27-29.

How to become a Presidential Scholar

Students must receive an invitation to apply to become a Presidential Scholar. They cannot apply on their own. 

In mid-January of each year, about 4,500 students from a pool of approximately 3.6 million graduating high school seniors receive letters inviting them to apply to the program. Candidates are required to submit several documents, including essays, transcripts, and self-assessments. 

All applications are assessed based on academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership, service, and essays. Students can expect to hear back in mid-April. 

Below are the criteria to become a general Presidential Scholar, a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and a Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education. 

Presidential Scholar

Presidential Scholars are selected for their many accomplishments, including academic success, leadership, and service to their communities and their schools. 

Typically, Presidential Scholars are named because they receive exceptionally good scores on the SAT or the ACT. But students can also be nominated by a Chief State School Officer or a representative from the program’s partner recognition organization. 

Presidential Scholar in the Arts

The Presidential Scholar in the Arts category was added in 1979 to recognize exceptional graduating high school seniors in the arts.

To be nominated, students must participate in the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts program and demonstrate academic achievement and talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts.

Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education

This category was added in 2015 to recognize exceptional graduating high school seniors in the career and technical fields.

To be nominated as a Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education, students must show “academic achievement in career and technical programs” and be nominated by a Chief State School Officer.