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NEWPORT — Three students at Newport High School have been named three of more than 5,000 candidates in the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Alyssa Dibble is a candidate for U.S. Presidential Scholar in Arts, Grace Newlun is a candidate for Overall Achievement and Cooper Ericksen is a dual candidate for both Overall Achievement and in Career and Technical Education. They were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from American high schools this year. Inclusion in the program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors in the U.S., according to a Department of Education news release.
Over 5,000 candidates who scored exceptionally well on the SAT or ACT apply for the program each year. Additionally, each Chief State School Officers may nominate candidates residing in their jurisdiction. Candidacy materials are then mailed to students for participation in the program.
Application is by invitation only; students do not apply individually, nor do their schools nominate them.
For the arts component, students are selected based on artistic excellence, then nominated through their CSSO. For the career and technical education component, students are selected based on their accomplishments in career and technical education fields, then again nominated through their CSSO.
Scholars are selected based on their academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, character and involvement in community and school activities. Further consideration will be based on the students’ essays, self-assessments, description of activities, recommendations and transcripts.
A panel of educators will review candidates’ submissions and select approximately 600 semifinalists in the spring. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of citizens appointed by the President, will select the finalists, and the Department of Education will announce the scholars in the summer.
Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from among that year’s senior class.
To commemorate their achievement, they are awarded the Presidential Scholars Medallion.
Alyssa Dibble is the daughter of Andrew and Jenny Dibble; Grace is the daughter of Neil and DeAnne Newlun; and Cooper Ericksen is the son of Soren and Anna Ericksen.
For more information about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, parents and students can email the U.S. Presidential Scholars Office at [email protected] or call 507-931-8345.
