Presidential Scholars
Vermont Presidential Scholars Program
The Vermont Presidential Scholars Program is a statewide recognition of student citizenship, academic, artistic, and leadership excellence. Students are recognized in three categories: General, Arts, and Career Technical Education (CTE). Each of these categories has different selection criteria, guidelines, and applications.
For all categories, schools can decide their own process for selection and are encouraged to make this information available to students when appropriate.
General Category
- Outstanding students are selected based on nominations from teachers and administrators, but students may also nominate themselves. As a state that values student agency, we encourage student self-nomination.
- Each high school may nominate two students, one male and one female (students are not required to identify by the gender assigned to them at birth).
- Note: Per U.S. Department of Education rules, the Vermont Agency of Education may only submit the names of 10 females and 10 males to be considered for the US Presidential Scholars Awards in the General category. These nominations are in addition to any student self-nominations from the same school.
- Per U.S. Department of Education rules, all nominees must be high school seniors graduating between January and June of 2024 who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent Vermont residents; who attend public, parochial, or independent schools; or who are home-schooled.
- General Category Nomination Form
- For more information, contact Sigrid Olson at sigrid.olson@vermont.gov.
Arts Category
- Outstanding students are selected based on nominations from teachers and administrators, but students may also nominate themselves. As a state that values student agency, we encourage student self-nomination.
- There is no limit on the number of nominees from each school in the Arts category.
- Arts Category Nomination Form
- For more information, contact Lisa Bresler at lisa.bresler@vermont.gov.
CTE Category
- Outstanding students are selected based on nominations from CTE center teachers and administrators (students may not self-nominate in the CTE category).
- There is no limit on the number of nominees from each CTE center in this category.
- Per U.S. Department of Education rules, all nominees must be high school seniors graduating between January and June of 2024 who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent Vermont residents; who attend public, parochial, or independent schools; or who are home-schooled.
- CTE Nomination Form
- For more information, contact Doug Webster at doug.webster@vermont.gov.
Process Timeline – Vermont Agency of Education
- Thursday, November 9, 2023 – Deadline for nominations for all categories of Vermont Presidential Scholars
- Late November, 2023 – Schools and Nominees are informed of results, names of recipients in the General and CTE categories are sent to the U.S. Department of Education
- Monday, January 22, 2024 – Presidential Scholars Award Ceremony at State House
Previous Years Winners
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, 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 Vermont Presidential Scholars recipients in the General and CTE categories will be invited by the U.S. Department of Education to apply for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.