U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 59th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars on May 10, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields. Five students who go to school in New Jersey are among the honorees.
Those students are:
- Andrew C. Noviello, Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
- Christopher Y. Shin, Cherry Hill High School East, Cherry Hill, New Jersey (a U.S. Presidential Scholar in Arts).
- Sebastián N. Anderson, Northern Highlands Regional High School, Allendale, New Jersey.
- Camryn Nicole Bartone, Freehold Township High School, Freehold, New Jersey.
- Katherine Chen, Mountain Lakes High School, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey.
A sixth student with a New Jersey connection, Ian Liu, was also honored. A New Jersey resident, Liu goes to school at the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York.
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 a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.
Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,000 candidates qualified for the 2023 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 YoungArts, the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.
As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2023 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 8,000 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 2023 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer with an online recognition program.
A complete list of 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available here.