Two Arkansas high school students named as U.S. Presidential Scholars

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Two Arkansas high school students have been named to an elite group thanks to their scholarship.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona named two Arkansas students among the 161 students designated as U.S. Presidential Scholars on May 9. Collier DeClerk of Gentry, who attends Bentonville West High School, and Ananya Uddanti of Little Rock, who attends Central High School, were named.

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects students from a nationwide pool based on SAT or ACT scores, academic success, art and technical education excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts. Officials said that of the 3.7 million expected to graduate high school this year, 5,700 qualified for the 2024 award.

The selection committee chooses two students from each state. In addition, the committee names 15 at large students, with an additional 20 in the arts and 20 in career and technical education.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 8,200 of the nation’s top-performing students since its 1964 inception. May marks the 60th anniversary of the award.

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