The U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts is a recognition program administered by the U.S. Department of Education that honors the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. Established in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson and expanded in 1979 to include arts students, the program selects approximately 161 scholars annually. Winners receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony in Washington, DC. There is no cash award.
How the Program Works
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes students in three components: general academics, career and technical education, and the arts. The arts component identifies students who demonstrate outstanding accomplishment in visual and performing arts or creative writing.
Key Change for 2026
From 1982 to 2025, YoungArts served as the sole nominating agency for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, drawing from annual YoungArts award winners with distinction. Since 2026, nominations are made through Chief State School Officers (CSSOs) in a process administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This change means students no longer need to be YoungArts winners to be considered.
Nomination Process
- Schools and creative arts organizations self-nominate students and submit applications to their state's Chief State School Officer (e.g., the Illinois State Board of Education, the Massachusetts DESE).
- Each CSSO may nominate up to five students for the arts component (in addition to up to 10 male and 10 female students for the general component).
- Nominated students receive candidacy materials by mail inviting them to apply.
- The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars reviews applications and selects the final scholars.
Eligibility
- US citizen or legal permanent resident
- Graduating high school senior (receiving a diploma between January and August of the program year)
- Enrolled in a public, parochial, or independent school, or home-schooled
- Participates in a visual, performing, or creative writing arts program
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted)
- Nominated by a school district teacher, administrator, or creative arts organization
Timeline for 2026
- State nominations are due between late January and early February 2026 (varies by state)
- The Commission on Presidential Scholars selects all 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars
- Scholars are announced in summer 2026
- Winners receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony in Washington, DC
Real-World Example
A 17-year-old high school senior in Massachusetts is a dedicated classical cellist who has won regional concerto competitions and serves as principal cellist in her youth orchestra. Her high school music teacher nominates her for the arts component of the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program by submitting the nomination form to the Massachusetts DESE by January 28, 2026. The nomination includes documentation of her arts coursework, competition awards, and performance experience. If selected by the DESE as one of its five arts nominees, she receives candidacy materials from the U.S. Department of Education and submits a full application. The White House Commission reviews her application alongside candidates from all 50 states. If chosen as one of the 161 Presidential Scholars, she travels to Washington, DC for the medallion ceremony in summer 2026.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The Presidential Scholars Medallion carries no cash prize, but its value is reputational. The recognition is one of the highest honors a graduating high school senior can receive in the United States. For college and conservatory applications, it is a signal of exceptional achievement that admissions officers recognize immediately.
The 2026 change to CSSO nominations is significant. Previously, only YoungArts award winners with distinction were eligible for consideration. Now, any high school senior nominated by their school or a creative arts organization can be put forward by their state's education agency. This opens the door to students who may not have applied to YoungArts but have outstanding artistic and academic records.
Contact your high school guidance counselor or state education agency early in your senior year to ask about the nomination process and deadline for your state. Each state sets its own internal deadline for receiving nominations, which is typically earlier than the federal deadline. Prepare a portfolio documenting your artistic accomplishments, including performance recordings, competition results, and arts coursework.
Eligibility Criteria (plain terms)
- You must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
- You must be a graduating high school senior (receiving a diploma between January and August of the program year)
- You must be enrolled in a public, parochial, or independent school, or be home-schooled
- You must participate in a visual, performing, or creative writing arts program
- You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted)
- You must be nominated by a school district teacher, administrator, or creative arts organization
- You cannot apply directly. Your school or arts organization must submit a nomination to your state's Chief State School Officer (CSSO)
- Each CSSO may nominate up to five students for the arts component
- For the 2026 program year, students in the arts were also able to self-nominate through the YoungArts Competition (the final year of this pathway). Starting with the 2027 award year, the CSSO nomination process is the sole pathway
Deadlines
- State nominations due: Between late January and early February 2026 (varies by state). For example, Illinois had a deadline of January 26, 2026. The federal deadline for CSSO nominations was February 6, 2026
- 2026 nominations are now closed
- Scholars announced: Summer 2026
- Medallion ceremony: Summer 2026 in Washington, DC
- 2027 program: Specific procedures for the new CSSO-only nomination process will be announced prior to fall 2026. Contact your state education agency early in your senior year
Past Recipients
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program selects approximately 161 scholars annually from nearly 3.6 million graduating high school seniors. Notable past Presidential Scholars in the Arts include:
- Clayton Stephenson (2017): Pianist. Later a 2021 Gilmore Young Artist and semifinalist at the 2022 Cliburn Competition. Studies in the Harvard-NEC Dual Degree Program
- Benjamin Pila: The only classical guitarist ever named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Has performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the 9/11 Memorial Museum for Pope Francis and three U.S. presidents
- India Carney (2011): Singer, songwriter, and actress. Top 5 finalist on NBC's The Voice Season 8. 2011 YoungArts winner in Theater and Voice
- Leonard Earl Howze (1995): Actor. Alumnus of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. BFA from SUNY Purchase. Film debut in "Barbershop"
- Michael Arden (2001): Theater director and performer. Directed the virtual tribute "A Salute to the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars"
The full list of scholars by year is available through the Presidential Scholars Foundation at presidentialscholars.org.
Videos
Similar Scholarships
- National YoungArts Foundation - National arts competition that served as the nominating pathway from 1982 to 2025
- From the Top - Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award for pre-college classical musicians
- Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist - Awards for talented young musicians with financial need
- Davidson Fellows - Recognition program for gifted students including musicians
Related Opportunities
- National YoungArts Foundation for the national arts competition that previously served as the nominating pathway
- From the Top for the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award for pre-college classical musicians
- Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
- Music Schools Directory to find music programs at top universities and conservatories
- Visit the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program official page for program details and eligibility information
