Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Congratulates Montana’s 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Semifinalists

• Brian O'Leary
• April 26 2023

HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen congratulates the six Montana semifinalists for the 2023 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 628 semifinalists throughout the nation. Each year, up to 161 students are named U.S. Presidential Scholars.

Montana’s semifinalists are:

• Jessica Bough of Lone Peak High School in Big Sky
• Connor Bushnell of Capital High School in Helena
• Marten Hartshorn of Bozeman High School in Bozeman
• Lily Miller of Hellgate High School in Missoula
• Reagan Remmers of Big Sky High School in Missoula
• Ryan Tomich of Butte High School in Butte

“Each one of these semifinalists has made their communities, parents, and teachers Montana proud,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “These six students reflect all those youth who strive to go above and beyond in their education. Join me in honoring the academic success of all Montana students this year.”

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 2022, there were also six semifinalists from Montana. In 2022, there were three finalists in Montana – Ashton Blake from CMR High School, Brooke Bothner from Bozeman High School, and John Chadwell from Lone Peak High School. The 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be announced in mid-May.