United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 57th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars and two winners were from Idaho.
Jaston McClure of Moscow High and Katherine Hebdon of Skyview High in Nampa received the annual honor awarded for academic excellence.
“Honoring them can remind us all of the great potential in each new generation and renew our commitment to helping them achieve their dreams,” Cardona said.
The title recognizes high school seniors for their “academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals,” a news release from the U.S. Department of Education states.
The Presidential Scholars are comprised of one male and one female student from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. families living abroad. There are also 15 at-large students chosen along with 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education.
The 2021 Presidential Scholars will be recognized in a ceremony this summer.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was started in 1964 by an executive order and has since honored over 7,600 students. In 1979, the program was expanded to include students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the arts. It was again expanded in 2015 to include career and technical education.
