South Dakota Department of Education |
U.S. Presidential Scholars
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and, since that time, the program has honored over 7,600 outstanding high school seniors. The mission of the program is to recognize and honor outstanding high school seniors, and thereby encourage high attainment among all students.
Per the original Executive Order establishing the program, students are selected on the basis of outstanding scholarship. For most of the program’s existence, nominees have been invited to apply for recognition based upon SAT or ACT scores. As the program has grown, candidates have been invited to apply in other ways as well. Beginning in 1979, outstanding students who demonstrated ability and accomplishment in the visual and performing arts or creative writing were added to the program. Since 2013, Chief State School Officers have been invited to nominate candidates from their states for the General component of the program. The program is also partnering with several recognition organizations that each nominate candidates for the General component of the program. And, beginning in 2016, outstanding students who demonstrate excellence in CTE were included for recognition.
This year each Chief State School Officer can nominate up to 20 students in the traditional Scholars program: 10 males and 10 females.
Additionally, up to five students in CTE can be nominated. All high school seniors graduating between January and June of 2021 who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public, parochial, or independent schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible.
Nominations must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. (CT) on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
After South Dakota submits its U.S. Presidential Scholars nominations, applications will be reviewed and narrowed to a list of nationwide nominees. All U.S.-nominees will be announced and invited to apply in mid-January 2021 by the U.S. Presidential Scholars program office. Completed applications will be due in February 2021, and Scholars will be announced at the beginning of May 2021.
Per the original Executive Order establishing the program, students are selected on the basis of outstanding scholarship. For most of the program’s existence, nominees have been invited to apply for recognition based upon SAT or ACT scores. As the program has grown, candidates have been invited to apply in other ways as well. Beginning in 1979, outstanding students who demonstrated ability and accomplishment in the visual and performing arts or creative writing were added to the program. Since 2013, Chief State School Officers have been invited to nominate candidates from their states for the General component of the program. The program is also partnering with several recognition organizations that each nominate candidates for the General component of the program. And, beginning in 2016, outstanding students who demonstrate excellence in CTE were included for recognition.
This year each Chief State School Officer can nominate up to 20 students in the traditional Scholars program: 10 males and 10 females.
Additionally, up to five students in CTE can be nominated. All high school seniors graduating between January and June of 2021 who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public, parochial, or independent schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible.
Nominations must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. (CT) on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
After South Dakota submits its U.S. Presidential Scholars nominations, applications will be reviewed and narrowed to a list of nationwide nominees. All U.S.-nominees will be announced and invited to apply in mid-January 2021 by the U.S. Presidential Scholars program office. Completed applications will be due in February 2021, and Scholars will be announced at the beginning of May 2021.