20 of the Nation’s Most Talented Artists, All YoungArts Award Winners, Receive High Honor Bestowed by the President of the United States
MIAMI, FL (May 9, 2024) –YoungArts congratulates the 161 high school seniors selected for the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Presidential Scholars, with special acknowledgement to the 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts (full list below), YoungArts award winners who were nominated for the honor by YoungArts. The U.S. Presidential Scholars award—one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic excellence, leadership qualities and community service—is presented on behalf of the President of the United States and honors up to 161 graduating high school seniors of high potential each year. To be selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, students must have attended National YoungArts Week.
Clive Chang, President of YoungArts, said, “YoungArts is proud to celebrate the incoming class of U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. These students—who have so impressively demonstrated academic and artistic excellence, along with commitment to and leadership in their communities—represent the next generation of artistic changemakers who will continue to use their skills and creativity to help us broaden our understanding of the world. YoungArts is thrilled to support them today, and to invest in their lifelong creative freedom.”
“The 161 high school seniors selected for the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Presidential Scholars program represent the best of our nation’s schools and inspire hope in the bright future of this country,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “On behalf of President Biden, I am delighted to celebrate their accomplishments, and encourage these scholars to continue to aim high, lift up others, and embrace opportunities to lead.”
The 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts are:
| Name | Hometown City, State | School | YoungArts Discipline and Winner Year |
| Paola Alvarez Ramirez | Miami, FL | New World School of the Arts | Visual Arts, 2024 |
| Detola Badmus | Elmont, NY | Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts | Voice, 2024 |
| Edward Chen | Irvine, CA | Orange County High School of the Arts | Dance, 2023 |
| Lauren Cheng | Burlingame, CA | Burlingame High School | Design, 2024 |
| Patrick Flanagan | Dallas, TX | St. Mark’s School of Texas | Photography, 2024 |
| Ale Fonseca | Miami, FL | Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer | Voice, 2024 |
| Niveah Glover | Jacksonville, FL | Douglas Anderson School of the Arts | Writing, 2022 |
| Brian Guan | Dublin, CA | Dublin High School | Writing, 2024 |
| Hannah Hong | Yorktown, VA | Grafton High School | Visual Arts, 2024 |
| Iris Hur | Paramus, NJ | Bergen County Academies | Classical Music, 2023 |
| Ian Kim | Glendale, CA | Harvard-Westlake School – High School Campus | Photography, 2022 |
| Jessie Leitzel | Mount Pleasant, SC | Charleston County School of the Arts | Writing, 2024 |
| Gabrielle Liberman | Summit, NJ | Kent Place School | Voice, 2024 |
| Erin Park | Chino, CA | Chino High School | Dance, 2022 |
| Chase Phillips | Louisville, KY | duPont Manual Magnet High School | Theater, 2024 |
| Nalin Reed | Trussville, AL | Alabama School of Fine Arts | Theater, 2022 |
| Christian Trimmingham | Richmond, VA | Interlochen Arts Academy | Theater, 2024 |
| Ming Wei Yeoh | Chanhassen, MN | Minnetonka High School | Writing, 2024 |
| Nicholas Yoo | Ramsey, NJ | Delbarton School | Classical Music, 2024 |
| Harmony Zhu | Cresskill, NJ | The Brearley School | Classical Music, 2023 |
Interviews can be facilitated, and images are available upon request.
Becoming a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts
The first step to becoming a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts is to apply to YoungArts, which is the nominating agency for this honor. To be eligible for the YoungArts program, applicants must be 15–18 years old or in high school grades 10–12. To be further considered for a nomination as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, applicants must be high school seniors and meet all of the U.S. Presidential Scholars requirements.
YoungArts award winners demonstrating excellence in the performing, visual or literary arts are selected annually through a rigorous adjudication process. This year, nearly 700 YoungArts award winners were selected. In January, 151 winners with distinction from across the nation were invited to National YoungArts Week, where they participated in a week of intensive classes and workshops with internationally renowned artists, and shared their work through performances, readings, exhibitions, and screenings that were be open to the public.
During National YoungArts Week, eligible participants are further evaluated, award levels are determined, and nominations are made for the year’s U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts candidates. After a rigorous selection process, YoungArts nominates 60 candidates to apply to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The Commission on Presidential Scholars selects up to 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts each year.
About U.S. Presidential Scholars
In 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established by executive order of President Lyndon B. Johnson to recognize and honor the nation’s top graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrated talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
Scholars are selected annually by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by the President, based on academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and writing ability. This year, over 5,700 candidates qualified for the 2024 program determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams, through nominations made by Chief State School Officers, or other partner recognition programs or YoungArts.
Since its inception, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 8,200 of the nation’s high-performing students. U.S. Presidential Scholars are honored for their accomplishments during the online National Recognition Program each June. To commemorate their achievement, the Scholars are awarded the Presidential Scholars Medallion.
The 161 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of two students from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education.
About YoungArts
Established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison, YoungArts identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential, and invests in their lifelong creative freedom. YoungArts provides space, funding, mentorship, professional development and community throughout artists’ careers. Entrance into this prestigious organization starts with a highly competitive application for talented artists ages 15–18, or grades 10–12, in the United States that is judged by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process.
For more information, visit youngarts.org, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter.
