Cascade High School students named semifinalists for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

LEAVENWORTH – Cascade High School students Cruz Martinez and Caroline Menna have been named semi-finalists for the prestigious 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program annually recognizes and honors the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Students are nominated across the country based on academic achievement, artistic excellence, or accomplishments in career and technical education, with candidates identified through standardized test scores, nominations by state superintendents, or recognition programs like YoungArts. 

In December 2024, approximately 6,000 students were nominated to apply for the program. Menna and Martinez were two out of 20 candidates nominated by Washington State. 

The candidates’ applications were evaluated by a review commission based on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay. Out of the pool of 6,000 candidates, approximately 650 students were selected as semifinalists. Menna and Martinez are two of the only nine semifinalists from Washington state.

The semifinalists will be further evaluated by the Commission on Presidential Scholars. In May, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars for 2025 will be announced. In June, scholars will be invited to Washington, D.C. to be presented with the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion in a White House-sponsored event.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president in order to recognize and honor the nation’s most distinguished high school seniors. In 1979, it was extended to recognize students who demonstrate talent in visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, it was extended to recognize accomplishments in career and technical education fields.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media