Grand Forks school district nominates nine students for Presidential Scholars Program

Nov. 21—GRAND FORKS — Grand Forks Public Schools has named nine seniors at Red River and Grand Forks Central high schools as nominees for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program.

The Grand Forks Central High School students are: Kaylee Anderson, Alina Golovko and Kaylee Kirkeby.

Red River High School nominees are: Logan Arason, Jonah Dafoe, Noura Elhamadany, Matthew Evans, Brett Feller, and Clarkson Sande.

These students' applications have been submitted to the North Dakota Department of CTE for consideration for the award.

"Each of these students possesses the outstanding talents, leadership skills, and character traits that make them an excellent representative of Grand Forks Public Schools and our CTE programs," said Eric Ripley, executive director of career and technical education and technology for the district.

Each student has completed a CTE coordinated plan of study or career pathway, has a minimum 3.0 grade point average and 3.25 grade point average in their CTE program, and has demonstrated technical competence, employability, ingenuity, creativity, and problem-solving skills, Ripley said.

The state Department of CTE will select up to five applicants to advance to the national level; their applications will be reviewed by a committee of individuals with experience in CTE fields. The committee will choose 60 applicants to be named as semifinalists.

The semifinalist applications will be reviewed by the Commission on Presidential Scholars. All 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and will receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony in their honor in Washington, D.C.

Each year, up to 161 students are named Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.