Washington State nominates Cascade High School students for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

LEAVENWORTH – Cascade High School students Cruz Martinez and Caroline Menna were nominated for the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognition award, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

“Being selected as a nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is an incredible honor. It represents not just the work I've done, but also the support I've received from my family, teachers, and community. And the recognition is all that much sweeter because I get to share it with my classmate and friend Cruz,” said Menna in an email to Ward Media.

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. Last year, out of 3.7 million students expected to graduate, 5,700 candidates qualified for scholar recognition awards. 

Martinez and Menna were among 20 students, 10 male and 10 female, nominated by Washington State for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) carefully evaluated nominees based on academic excellence, commitment to learning, engagement in activities and service, leadership, resiliency in overcoming challenges and potential for a productive future. 

“Being a selected nominee allows me to see that all the efforts that [are] put into my academics, extracurriculars and being a good community member do not go unseen,” said Martinez in an email to Ward Media. 

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Office will send letters towards the end of January inviting each state’s qualifying candidates to apply for the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The candidate list will be posted online the week of Jan. 20, according to the U.S. Presidential Scholars website.

After submitting their candidacy materials, students will be evaluated by a review commission based on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay. Approximately 650 semifinalists will be announced in April, then 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