Twenty-four Punahou seniors have been selected as candidates for the Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. 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. The Punahou seniors are among 4,500 candidates selected nationwide and 63 in Hawai’i.
Students are initially selected based on their SAT or ACT scores. To be considered further, candidates must submit essays, self-assessments and transcripts. They’re then evaluated on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, as well as their essay.
In late March, approximately 500 semifinalists are chosen, and in April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars makes the final selection of 121 students. Two students are chosen from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad. In addition, up to 15 students are chosen at large, up to 20 students are selected as Presidential Scholars in the Arts, and up 20 students are selected as Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education.
Congratulations to the following Punahou seniors who were selected as candidates:
Janelle Chu, Noah Chung, Joh Demura-Devore, Zoey Duan, Joshua Dutton, Haruna Floate, Kaylynn Hashiro, Alexander Henkin, Leilani Hoffmann, Leo Kim, Remi Kuba, Carson Loughridge, Jacob Mckeown, Ethan Nagasako, Noah Nakagawa, Bao Nguyen, Sascha Pakravan, Kainoa Paul, Jamie Seu, Helen Shanefield, Tobias Shimabukuro, Madison Suh, Mackenzie Watts and Cedric Yeo.
