Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Congratulates Montana’s 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Semifinalists

• Brian O'Leary
• April 26 2022

HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen congratulates the six Montana semifinalists for the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. This program was established in 1964 to recognize and honor our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. The program has been extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts as well as ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. This year, there are 620 semifinalists throughout the nation. Each year, up to 161 students are named U.S. Presidential Scholars.

Montana’s semifinalists are:

• Asher Beaudin of Valley Christian School in Missoula
• Ashton Blake of CMR High School in Great Falls
• Brooke Bothner of Bozeman High School in Bozeman
• Katherine Callow of Bozeman High School in Bozeman
• John Chadwell of Lone Peak High School in Big Sky
• Jilian Wynne of Flathead High School in Kalispell

“These six Montana semifinalists have made all of us Montana proud through this national recognition,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Behind these six high school seniors, there are many more bright and talented students. As graduation approaches, join me in celebrating the achievements of all of our Montana students.”

Students must meet the following criteria for the general component of the Presidential Scholars Program:

• are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline (Students who were not U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents on the day they took SAT or ACT exam, or who requested that The College Board or ACT not release their scores to outside entities, should contact the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program at 507-931-8345 to ensure their scores are considered in the determination of the candidate pool.);
• graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2022, the current program year; and
• score exceptionally well on either the SAT of the College Board or the ACT of the American College Testing Program, based on tests taken during the year window that begins in September 2018 and runs through October 2021, (for the recognition cycle concluding in June 2022), nominated by their Chief State School Officer (CSSO) or nominated by one of our partner recognition organizations based on outstanding scholarship.

In 2021, there were six semifinalists from Montana. Two Montanans were named 2021 Presidential Scholars – Claire Downing from Helena High School and John Gilbert from Hobson Public School. The 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be announced in mid-May.

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