Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Congratulates Montana’s 2024 Semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

• Brian O'Leary
• April 23 2024

HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen congratulates the six Montana semifinalists for the 2024 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 625 semifinalists throughout the nation. Each year, up to 161 students are named U.S. Presidential Scholars.

Montana’s six semifinalists are:

• Ella Casada of Pinehaven Christian School in St. Ignatius
• Caiden Hamer of Big Sky High School in Missoula
• Elsa Miller of Corvallis High School in Corvallis
• John Reynolds of Manhattan High School in Manhattan
• Ellis Walker-Keleher of Missoula, attending United World College East Africa (Arusha Campus) in Arusha, Tanzania
• Grace Wandler of Hellgate High School in Missoula

“Parents, teachers, and community members are Montana proud of the six semifinalists,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “These students reflect my Montana Learn initiative, which focuses on achieving academic success. Join me in honoring all students around our great state who embrace educational excellence.”

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;
• graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2024, 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 August 2020 and runs through October 2023, (for the recognition cycle concluding in June 2024), nominated by their Chief State School Officer (CSSO) or nominated by one of the partner recognition organizations based on outstanding scholarship.

In 2023, there were six semifinalists and two finalists from Montana. The 2023 finalists were: Jessica Bough of Lone Peak High School in Big Sky and Marten Hartshorn of Bozeman High School in Bozeman. The 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be announced in mid-May.