May 22 :
Among the most distinguished high school students in the country, thirty Indian-Americans were named Presidential Scholars this year. In 1964, the United States President founded the US Presidential Scholars Programme to reward and acknowledge the most outstanding high school seniors in the country.
Up to 161 students are recognised each year as Presidential Scholars. Every state, DC, Puerto Rico, and US family residing overseas has one male and one female student selected according to a quota system. Fifteen scholars are chosen from the general population, twenty from the arts, and twenty from vocational and technical education round up the 55 total scholars. A monetary stipend is not included in this prize.
This year's list of notable Indian-Americans was determined by evaluating them in a number of ways, including their participation in varsity athletics, their creative achievements, their leadership qualities, their citizenship, their career and technical education, and their community service.
One of the honorees, Aanya Shah of Michigan, is an activist for people with disabilities who has also served on the UNICEF USA National Youth Council and as state president of the Health Occupations Students of America organisation. At Johns Hopkins University, she will further her education.
Another prestigious list member is Ananya Uddanti of Little Rock Central High School. Thanks to my parents and the rest of my Little Rock Central High School family, I was one of the first US high school seniors to be federally recognised. My academic adventure at Brown University is only beginning, and I couldn't be more appreciative of this honour. Uddanti stated in a LinkedIn post.
Winners from other states and schools include: Manav Aggarwal of Huntsville, Alabama; Sruti Peddi of Fountain Hills, Arizona; Siddharth R. Nareddy of Westminster, Colorado; Amanrai S. Kahlon of Hockessin, Delaware; Keya Krishna of Washington; and Randolph School.
Furthermore, the following students from various schools: Pradyumn M. Bonu of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Sai Peddainti of Naperville, Illinois, Waubonsie Valley High School, Ayaan Parikh of Wichita, Kansas, Freedom High School, Vineeth Sendilraj of Suwanee, Georgia, Lambert High School, and Adlai E. Stevenson High School.
Paranjay Sharma of Kansas, Minaal A. Khwaja of Maryland, Radhika Heda of Massachusetts, Lexington High School, Anish Jain of Michigan, Avondale Senior High School, and a host of other Indian-American recipients Shubha Gautam of Columbia, Missouri, and Aanya Shah of Michigan attended Troy High School.
Santosh Manikandan, Deetya B. Nagri, Prayag J. Patel, Pranav Sitaraman, Dishita Agarwal, Prithvi Vijay Narayanan, Aneri Shethji, Raaga Kodali, Sriya Yalamanchili, Ashwin Joshi, Siddhartha Dylan Pant, Kosha Upadhyay, and Amisha Sao are the remaining Indian-American students.
