On October 27, the U.S. Department of Education announced the selection of 161 high school seniors as the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars, with around 40 of those students of Indian and South Asian descent.
The U.S. Department of Education revealed on October 27, 2023, that 161 high school seniors have been selected as 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars, a prestigious honor recognizing outstanding achievements in academics, the arts, and career and technical education. Among the honorees, approximately 40 students of Indian origin or South Asian ancestry have made the list, reflecting a significant representation in this year’s selection.
This year, the selection process began with a pool of approximately 3.9 million graduating high school seniors. Out of this large group, over 6,700 candidates qualified for consideration based on their exceptional performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams, or through nominations by chief state school officers. The rigorous selection process employed by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars assesses candidates based on academic excellence, artistic and technical talent, essays, school recommendations, and evidence of leadership and community service.
Significance of the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 and has since honored roughly 8,800 of America’s most accomplished students. It expanded in 1979 to include recognition of students demonstrating artistic excellence and further expanded in 2015 to celebrate achievements in career and technical education. Each member of the selected class will receive an engraved U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion, symbolizing their extraordinary accomplishments and the promise of their futures.
Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education, remarked on the significance of the award, stating, “These students represent the exceptional caliber of character and intellect that our nation’s future demands. On behalf of President Trump, I congratulate each Scholar who never gave up, the families who believed in them, and the communities who guided them. As you forge your next paths, continue to aim higher, leverage your extraordinary talents, and boldly assume your responsibilities as leaders.” This statement underscores the value placed on academic and personal achievement within the framework of national educational recognition.
List of Scholars of Indian and South Asian Origin
The following students were recognized for their achievements and hailed from various states across the U.S.:
- Alabama: Arnav Maskey, Madison, Bob Jones High School
- Arizona: Akshay Karthik, Chandler – Hamilton High School; Roshni Nagarakanti, Scottsdale – Desert Mountain High School
- Arkansas: Manvitha Narasimhan, Bentonville – Bentonville High School
- California: Suraj Samir Shah, Tustin – Arnold O. Beckman High School
- Connecticut: Vedant Rakesh Kansara, Unionville – Farmington High School; Suchita Srinivasan, Cheshire – Cheshire High School
- Delaware: Akshaj Bais, Newark – Newark Charter School; Sudipa Chowdhury, Newark – Newark Charter School; Jai Mihir Thacker, Wilmington – The Charter School of Wilmington
- Florida: Kurukulasuriya Nishini Amaya Fernando, Fort Myers – Dunbar High School
- Georgia: Samanyu Krishna Ganesh, Atlanta – The Westminster Schools; Ananya Tara Rajagopalan, Marietta – Wheeler High School
- Idaho: Kavya Bansal, Eagle – Renaissance High School
- Illinois: Rachel Varghese, Long Grove – Adlai E. Stevenson High School
- Indiana: Riya Ayisha Koya, Carmel – Carmel High School
- Kansas: Sanjana Akkulugari, Leawood – The Barstow School
- Kentucky: Deepika Koripelli, Louisville – duPont Manual Magnet High School; Avneesh Mahesh Kudrimoti, Lexington – Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
- Louisiana: Aditiya Safaya, Covington – Mandeville High School
- Michigan: Ajay Singh Raj Purohit, Ann Arbor – Greenhills School
- Minnesota: Aaratrika Mondal, Maple Grove – Wayzata High School
- Missouri: Shiv Bansal, Springfield – Kickapoo High School; Vihaan J Choudhary, Saint Louis – Lindbergh High School
- Nebraska: Rikhil Chowdary Jasti, Lincoln – Lincoln East High School
- New Hampshire: Jhanvi D Desai, Nashua – Nashua Senior High School South
- New Jersey: Sahaj Bhandari, Parsippany – Morris Hills High School; Jismi Mathew, East Hanover – Morris County School of Technology; Sapna K Patel, Northfield – Mainland Regional High School
- New Mexico: Aarush Tutiki, Albuquerque – Albuquerque Academy
- North Carolina: Aarush Jugdar, Concord – The North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics; Maya Kodali, Charlotte – Providence Day School; Swayam Shah, Apex – William G. Enloe Gifted & Talented Magnet High School
- Oregon: Shriya Pai, Portland – Jesuit High School
- Texas: Veda S. Ganesan, Flower Mound – Edward S Marcus High School; Mahith Gottipati, Sugar Land – Dulles High School
- Utah: Khushi Patel, Saint George – Dixie High School
- Virginia: Yalini Kathamuthu, Herndon – BASIS Independent McLean; Nived Nandakumar, Chantilly – Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology
- Wyoming: Roy Vaid, Rawlins – Phillips Exeter Academy
This year’s selection highlights the diverse contributions of students of Indian and South Asian descent to the academic landscape of the United States, as well as their potential to influence future generations as leaders in various fields.
