As the year comes to a close, 161 seniors are nominated across the nation for the Presidential Scholarship Award.
Run by the Department of Education, the Presidential Scholarship Award is one of the highest honors bestowed to high school students. Every year, students are nominated for three categories: “Art”, “Career Technical Education,” and “General” – a nomination based on SAT or ACT scores. However, the three different options do not make achieving this award any easier.
“Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,700 candidates qualified for the 2024 awards,” explains Jessie Green, the head of counseling at Briar Woods. “[It is] determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by chief state school officers.”
Out of those 5,700 candidates, only 161 will make it to the finals, through a process of writing essays, completing portfolios, and showing leadership in their community.
“The initial application [had] a few essay questions, you had to list all the activities you did in high school, the awards and honors you received, and [a recommendation] letter from a teacher and counselor,” says Raaga Kodali, a senior at Briar Woods and Presidential Scholarship Award finalist.
Once nominated, the chosen scholars are invited to a digital ceremony in which they are recognized with the prestigious award, given the Scholars Medallion, and officially are given the title, which looks extremely good on resumes.
This year, Briar Woods is proud to say that two of our own were nominated for the program, with Sasanka Sreedevi-Naresh reaching the semi-finals and Raaga Kodali as a finalist.
“I wasn’t aware of the program,” explains Sreedevi-Naresh, “I did a little research and I was really happy I was selected.”
“[When I found out] it was crazy,” says Kodali, “I wasn’t expecting this, I didn’t even know what the award was when I was first nominated but it feels really good to be recognized for all the work I’ve put in.”
In previous years, Briar Woods has only had a handful of students receive this award. To have two students make it this far in the same year is extremely rare.
“In my eyes, the Presidential Scholarship Award reflects the type of students we have here at Briar,” explains Green, “Not only are they engaged in the classroom on a regular basis but they are also taking what they learn and implementing it into real life, practical experiences in the community. Our students are truly amazing!”
