Presidential Scholar is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students
BATON ROUGE, La. — The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has named eight Louisiana students as 2026 semifinalists.
The program honors some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Students are recognized for excellence in academics, the arts, and career and technical education.
Louisiana’s 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars semifinalists are:
- Aditiya Safaya, Covington — Mandeville High School
- Aiden Christian Fee, Baton Rouge — Dunham School
- Anne Marie George, New Orleans — Metairie Park Country Day School
- Allison Clare Riley, Baton Rouge — St. Joseph’s Academy
- Lukas Charles Schwehm, Baton Rouge — Baton Rouge Magnet High School
- Aditi Shridhar, Metairie — Isidore Newman School
- Lucy Margaret Thomas, Baton Rouge — Baton Rouge Magnet High School
- Christine Tseng, Metairie — Haynes Academy of Advanced Studies
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president. Each year, up to 161 students are named U.S. Presidential Scholars. Finalists are selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars.
About the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program honors graduating high school seniors for outstanding achievement in academics, the arts, and career and technical education. It is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.