High schools across Tennessee just received new bragging rights, and so did some of their students.¶
“Congratulations to 16 Tennessee students named 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholar Semi-Finalists!" a Tennessee Department of Education social media post read. “These outstanding high schoolers from across the state are recognized for academic, artistic, and technical excellence, leadership, and community service.”¶
Tennessee placed 16 students in the semifinals of the Presidential Scholars Program this year. The program was created to recognize the most outstanding high school seniors in the United States each year.¶
What is the Presidential Scholars Program?
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program got its start in 1964, when it was created by a presidential executive order by Lyndon B. Johnson. Each year, up to 161 students representing academic excellence and potential are named U.S. Presidential Scholars. The application is by invitation only.¶
There are three main ways students can be selected. Most scholars are chosen for their overall academic achievement. Approximately 20 students are also recognized each year for their work in the arts, including visual arts, performing arts, and creative writing. Another 20 are chosen for their accomplishments in career and technical education programs.¶
Approximately 4,000 general program candidates are initially selected based on their ACT and SAT scores, and then a variety of metrics comparing other test results and assessments whittle the number down from there.¶
The Semi-Finalists
These are the semifinalists for the state of Tennessee:¶
- Jelena Rose Armsworth, Knoxville - L&N STEM Academy
- Lindsey Morgan Baker, Germantown - Houston High School
- Claire Ellen Bradford, Fayetteville - Lincoln County High School
- Maitea J Dervaux-Fitzgerald, Memphis - East High School
- John B Hancock, Lebanon - Lebanon High School
- Varun Teja Kilaru, Brentwood - Ravenwood High School
- Joshua Hyungwan Kim, Chattanooga - The McCallie School
- Rehan Ramesh Krishnan, Collierville - Collierville High School
- Luke Xiangcheng Meng, Germantown - White Station High School
- Tage Moore, McMinnville - Warren County High School
- Sophia G Oakley, Waverly - Central High School
- Ahbi M Patel, Brentwood - Brentwood High School
- Henry Thai Phan, Memphis - Memphis University School
- Emily Xu, Knoxville - Farragut High School
- Amy Yu, Collierville - White Station High School
- Andrew Zhou, Memphis - White Station High School
