Jefferson City News

Three high school seniors from Missouri have been named as members of the 60th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars. They join 158 other students nationwide who have been recognized for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.

The honorees from Missouri include Shubha Gautam from Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Lynn Marie Dyer from Lafayette County C-1 High School in Higginsville, and Santosh Manikandan from Liberty High School in Wentzville. Notably, Lynn Marie Dyer has been acknowledged as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.

"This is such an esteemed honor, and I applaud Shubha, Lynn Marie, and Santosh for their hard work and impressive achievements," said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. "The rigorous coursework these students have committed to has paid off and will continue to do so as they pursue their chosen paths to success."

Since its establishment in 1964, the federal program has honored more than 8,000 top-performing students across the nation. This year’s class will be celebrated later this summer for their exceptional achievements.

Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate high school this year, just over 5,700 qualified for consideration in the 2024 awards. Candidates were evaluated based on outstanding performance on College Board SAT and ACT exams or through nominations by Chief State School Officers, partner recognition organizations, or participation in the National YoungArts Foundation's program.

For a complete list of the 2024 honorees and additional information about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program visit http://www.ed.gov/psp.