Newport students named Presidential Scholar candidates

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.