MARYLAND — Fourteen Maryland high school students were named semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program in 2026. The U.S. Department of Education selects up to 161 Presidential Scholars nationwide each year based on academic and artistic achievement, career and technical education success, leadership, and school and community involvement.
Thirteen of the semifinalists attend public schools and one attends a private school. Six students come from Montgomery County Public Schools, four from Howard County Public School System, and one each from Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Calvert County Public Schools, and Washington County Public Schools. The private school semifinalist attends Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda.
Among the semifinalists are students recognized in specialized categories. Nora B. Devine from Severna Park High School, Kayla Rae Jones from Patuxent High School, and Chelsea I. Sun from Atholton High School were named in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) category. Ella Bryn Rechtorovic from Williamsport High School was named in the Arts category.
Other semifinalists include Nikhil R. Maddirala from Marriott Ridge High School, Advik Rai from River Hill High School, Jayen A. Tolia from Reservoir High School, Mayme Rose Killeen from Walt Whitman High School, Anya Frances Kleinman from Richard Montgomery High School, Cooper Liu Li from Montgomery Blair High School, Grace E. Li from Richard Montgomery High School, Sherry Lin from Richard Montgomery High School, Aditya Purohit from Richard Montgomery High School, and Joseph Michael Doherty from Georgetown Preparatory School.
State Superintendent of Schools Carey M. Wright said, "We are unbelievably proud by the national recognition for our students’ academic, artistic and career and technical education accomplishments." Wright added, "These students are among the best and the brightest and we wish them well during the final round of the selection process."
Finalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program will be announced later in 2026. The program, established in 1964, honors top high school seniors across the United States.