Fifteen Punahou seniors have been selected as candidates for the Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. They are among 4,500 candidates selected nationwide and 68 in Hawai’i. Most of them will choose to continue with the process of applying to be in the final 150 nationwide.
Congratulations to the following seniors who were selected as candidates:
Samantha Chapman
Pascal He
Everett Higa
Micah Hiu
Jonah Johnson
Shawn Jun
Erin Nishi
Sejin Park
Milica Prisic Smagghe
Leah Shinno
Victoria Takai
Elizabeth Ting
John (“Jack”) Vann
Cosette Wu
Andrew Yu
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. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.