Kentucky Department of Education seeking nominations for U.S. Presidential Scholars

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is seeking nominations from schools for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program .

This is not a scholarship; however, all scholars will be honored for their accomplishments during the National Recognition Program in June 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Presidential Scholars will be guests of the commissioner of the U.S. Department of Education (USED) during the National Recognition Program and receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with government officials, educators and other accomplished people. To commemorate their achievement, the scholars are awarded the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

Each school may nominate three high school seniors: one male, one female and one career and technical education (CTE) student of any gender. KDE has more information about the criteria for CTE student candidates .

Schools are encouraged to nominate students who, while demonstrating outstanding scholarship, might not otherwise be nominated through the current ACT/SAT or arts recognition processes. For the arts component, students must participate in the YoungArts program through the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.

Considerations for Nomination

• What about the student makes them stand out as having outstanding scholarship?

• What is special about this student’s personal characteristics, leadership and service activities in the fields of academics, career education or the arts?

Staff Recommendations

To apply, school staff should decide who to recommend as Presidential Scholars and then complete the appropriate staff recommendation forms linked below for each student:

• 2024-2025 Presidential Scholars Male/Female Student Staff Recommendation Form.

• 2024-2025 Presidential Scholars CTE Student Staff Recommendation Form.

As a reminder, a school can recommend only three students: one male, one female and one CTE student.

Student Applications

After completing the staff recommendation form for each student, staff should contact the recommended students and ask them to complete one of the linked forms below:

• 2024-2025 Presidential Scholars Male/Female Student Application Form.

• 2024-2025 Presidential Scholars CTE Student Application Form.

Important Information

All applications must be submitted to KDE by Friday, Nov. 1. KDE will select and submit the names of 25 students to USED. Please email Kathie Anderson at kathie.anderson@education.ky.gov if you have any questions or call her at (502) 564-4970, ext. 4133.

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