News Release       

For Immediate Release

November 18, 2022

Nine Students Named District Nominees for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Nine Grand Forks Public Schools seniors have been named district nominees for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program.

Kaylee Anderson (Grand Forks Central), Logan Arason (Red River), Jonah Dafoe (Red River), Noura Elhamadany (Red River), Matthew Evans (Red River), Brett Feller (Red River), Alina Golovko (Grand Forks Central), Kaylee Kirkeby (Grand Forks Central), and Clarkson Sande (Red River) have been submitted to the North Dakota Department of CTE for consideration of the award.

“Each of these students possesses the outstanding talents, leadership skills, and character traits that make them an excellent representative of Grand Forks Public Schools and our CTE programs,” said Eric Ripley, executive director of career and technical education and technology.

Each of the students has completed a CTE coordinated plan of study or career pathway, has a minimum 3.0 grade point average and 3.25 grade point average in their CTE coordinated plan of study or career pathway, and has demonstrated technical competence, employability, ingenuity, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

The state department will review all applications before selecting up to five state applicants to advance to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. Those applicants will then be reviewed by a committee of individuals experienced in career and technical education. The committee will choose 60 applicants to be named as semifinalists. The 60 CTE semifinalist applications will then be reviewed by the Commission on Presidential Scholars. All 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and will receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony in their honor in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize and honor some of the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 2015, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.

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