Martin High School senior Vivian Nguyen has been named a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Nguyen is one of more than 5,000 candidates for the program selected from the more than 3.6 million students expected to graduate this year from high school.
“We are so proud of Vivian and all that she’s accomplished,” said Marlene Roddy, principal, Martin High School. “She is a member of our STEM Academy and has been a key player in our leadership conference this year. She is a creative innovator and leader and just an amazing young woman. We do not doubt that her future is bright.”
Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected based on superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.
Nguyen is the student body president and a high-school research intern on image biometrics at MIT. She was admitted into the Stanford class of 2027 and plans on majoring in bioengineering. Additionally, she was recently selected as one of the 250 finalists for the Coca-Cola Scholarship out of 91,000 applicants nationwide.
Outside of school, Nguyen runs a clothing business and founded a girl’s mentorship program to advocate for female entrepreneurship and girl’s empowerment. She was named one of the “Six Teens Making the World a Better Place” by FORBES Magazine in 2022 and filmed a television segment for ABC News: Good Morning Texas.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership and service to school and community. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students demonstrating exceptional scholarship and talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was expanded once again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical fields.
Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from among that year’s senior class, representing excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth. A distinguished panel of educators will review these submissions and select approximately 600 semifinalists in early April. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 eminent citizens appointed by the President, will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in May.