Two Bentonville High School students have been named U.S. Presidential Scholars, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced today.
The Arkansas students — Saahas Parise of Bentonville and Rachael Baltresa Thumma of Rogers — are among 161 high school seniors who were selected nationally by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.
U.S. Presidential Scholars consist of one male and one female from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education.
More than 5,000 candidates of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year qualified for the 2022 awards based on their College Board SAT or ACT exam scores or through nominations made by chief state school officers, other partner recognition organizations and YoungArts, the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.
In selecting the scholars, the White House Commission considers a student's academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, and demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.