Four of the five Illinois students named U.S. Presidential Scholars are Naperville residents or attend a Naperville school.
Among the 161 high school students selected to the 58th class for the prestigious honor for their accomplishments are Naperville residents Rishi Patel, Jaisnav Rajesh and Piya Shah, all who attend Waubonsie Valley High School, and Henry Xie, of Lisle, a student a Naperville North High School.
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The fifth Illinois student is Jui Khankari, of Oak Brook, who attends Hinsdale Central High School.
The 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education.
The three Waubonsie Valley students were named U.S. Presidential Scholars in career and technical education.
Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 7,900 of the nation’s top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a news release said the 2022 Presidential Scholars represent the best of America.
“Throughout one of the most trying periods in our nation’s history and amid our recovery from the pandemic, our students have once again demonstrated their strength and that they have so much to contribute to our country. Thanks to them, I know America’s future is bright,” Cardona said.
The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.
Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,000 candidates qualified for the 2022 awards determined by their performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by chief state school officers, other partner recognition organizations and YoungArts, the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.