Carmel High School Celebrates 23 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates

CARMEL, IN – Carmel High School is proud to announce that 23 seniors have been named candidates for the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. This year, the Indiana Department of Education identified 119 candidates statewide, meaning Carmel High School students account for nearly 20% of the state’s total honorees—a staggering achievement that reinforces the district's standing as a premier institution on the national stage.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Inclusion in this program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating seniors, as the Department of Education selects only one male and one female winner from each state each year.

Carmel High School maintains an unprecedented record of success within this elite program. The school has produced at least one state Scholar every year since 2021. Notably, in 2023, Carmel achieved the rare distinction of having two students named national Scholars, a feat shared by only a select handful of schools across the United States. These 23 candidates now join a prestigious legacy of past Carmel honorees, including Henry Joliet (2025), Claire H. He (2024), Archit Kalra and Amogha Medha Paleru (2023), Kevin Wang (2022), and Zoe Edwards (2021).

The selection process will continue through the spring as the Commission on Presidential Scholars reviews applications based on academic success, artistic and technical excellence, leadership, and community service. Finalists will be announced in the coming months, with the two state winners designated in May. Carmel High School congratulates these 23 students on this significant milestone and celebrates their dedication to academic excellence and leadership.

2026 Carmel High School Presidential Scholar Candidates: