On May 10, the U.S. Department of Education announced its 2023 class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, including 20 CTE students. The Presidential Scholars program is designed to recognize top-performing high school seniors across the country, and was expanded in 2015 to include an “at-large” category for students who “demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.”
CTE students are nominated by their states and then narrowed through a rigorous selection process. This year’s class of CTE Presidential Scholars includes:
- Tej Sandeep Desai, Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix, Arizona
- Sezen S. Musa, Adrian C. Wilcox High School, Santa Clara, California
- Katherine Jordan Little, Thomas Jefferson High School, Denver, Colorado
- Samra Iman Iqbal, Caesar Rodney High School, Camden, Delaware
- Puiyee Kong, Caesar Rodney High School, Camden, Delaware
- Sahil Sood, Lambert High School, Suwanee, Georgia
- Aira Dani, Northview High School, Duluth, Georgia
- Vaeanui Paiarii Peck, Kahuku High School, Kahuku, Hawaii
- Eshaan S. Chandani, Johnston High School, Johnston, Iowa
- Maxwell L. Neri, Waubonsie Valley High School, Aurora, Illinois
- Cecelia Ann Rogers, Nelson County High School, Bardstown, Kentucky
- Henry C. Knox, Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational High School, Bourne, Massachusetts
- Alijandro Ian Mendoza, Worcester Vocational High School, Worcester, Massachusetts
- Hannah N. Rice, Brunswick R-II High School, Brunswick, Missouri
- Josiah Hailey Young, Hickory Ridge High School, Harrisburg, North Carolina
- Kaylee Mae Kirkeby, Grand Forks Central High School, Grand Forks, North Dakota
- Amy Park, West Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Jay G. Patel, Butler Tech Bioscience Center, West Chester Township, Ohio
- Aaron Wang, Skyline High School, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Isabella Mackenzie Herrod, Liberty High School, Clarksburg, West Virginia
