Grand Forks Central’s Kaylee Mae Kirkeby is one of three seniors named today (Wed) as North Dakota’s Presidential Scholars for 2023.
The others are Annelise Klein and Srinath Kandooru, both of Bismarck Century High School.
The Presidential Scholar Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Education, honors high school seniors of outstanding achievement in academics, the arts, and career and technical education.
Kirkeby was named as a Career and Technical Education Presidential Scholar.
The students are among 161 to be honored this year among the 50 states…District of Columbia…Puerto Rico…and Americans abroad.
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(GF Public Schools release: )
Kaylee Kirkeby (Grand Forks Central High School) has been named one of three North Dakota high school seniors selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar.
Kirkeby was selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education (CTE).
The students were selected from a group of North Dakota Presidential Scholar semifinalists announced in April.
“Being named a Presidential Scholar is a capstone achievement for any high school student,” North Dakota School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler. “Congratulations to these young people for attaining this honor, and I join them, their families, their teachers, their friends, and the state of North Dakota in celebrating it.”
Each year, up to 161 students are named Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.
“Kaylee embodies the outstanding student leaders we have within CTE,” said Eric Ripley, executive director of CTE and technology. “Kaylee has demonstrated outstanding success in her marketing education and medical careers courses, serving as a leader in both aligned student organizations of DECA and HOSA. To be selected in the CTE category is well-deserved recognition for her accomplishments, but also credit to the high-quality CTE students and staff we are fortunate to have within Grand Forks Public Schools.”
Kirkeby selected Laurie Salander, a marketing teacher at Grand Forks Central High School, as a 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Distinguished Teacher.
Established in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors distinguished graduating seniors nationwide. In 1979, the Program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was extended again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,000 candidates qualified for the 2023 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by chief state school officers and other partner recognition organizations.
The program is sponsored by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the U.S. Department of Education.
The Presidential Scholars Class of 2023 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer with an online recognition program.
A complete list of 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars follows and is also available at http://www.ed.gov/psp.
In 2021, Dennis Wu (Grand Forks Central) was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. Gary Wu (Grand Forks Central) was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education (CTE) in 2020, and Evan Welsh (Grand Forks Central) was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in CTE in 2017.
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(ND DPI release: )
– North Dakota School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler applauded
three North Dakota high school seniors who were named Wednesday as the state’s Presidential Scholars
for 2023.
The North Dakota scholars are:
• Srinath B. Kandooru, Century High School, Bismarck
• Annelise Klein, Century High School, Bismarck
• Kaylee Mae Kirkeby, Central High School, Grand Forks
“Being named as a Presidential Scholar is a capstone achievement for any high school student,” Baesler
said. “Congratulations to these young people for attaining this honor, and I join them, their families, their
teachers, their friends, and the state of North Dakota in celebrating it.”
The U.S. Department of Education manages the Presidential Scholars program, which honors high school
seniors of outstanding achievement in academics, the arts, and career and technical education. Kirkeby
was named as a CTE Presidential Scholar.
The North Dakotans are among 161 students to be honored this year in the 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, and among Americans abroad.
Most Presidential Scholar candidates are chosen according to an analysis of their college entrance exam
scores. There is no application process. Others are nominated by state education departments and partner
organizations. Final selections are made by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, a
group of individuals appointed by the president.
In January, the U.S. Department of Education named 75 North Dakota Presidential Scholar candidates,
including five in career and technical education. The group was later narrowed to eight semifinalists.
Scholars are chosen according to their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school
evaluations and transcripts, and community service and leadership.
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