Nineteen Michigan Students Selected Semifinalists for 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

LANSING – Nineteen Michigan high school students were selected as semifinalists by the Commission on U.S. Presidential Scholars of the U.S. Department of Education for the prestigious 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Education will choose 161 scholarship winners for the highly selective program, which recognizes some of the most distinguished and accomplished graduating high school seniors in the country.

“These 19 students represent the many outstanding scholars we have across Michigan,” said State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. “They should be very proud of this recognition, and so should their families, educators, and school communities who supported them along the way. I wish them all the best as the U.S. Department of Education selects this year’s scholars.”

Below are the names of the Michigan semifinalists, their hometowns and schools, and a notation for semifinalists for scholars in the arts. All other semifinalists were chosen for broad academic achievement.

• Angelina E. Chen, Midland - Herbert Henry Dow High School in Midland Public Schools.
• Alexandra Danciu DaSilva, Ann Arbor - Greenhills School in Ann Arbor.
• Vihaan Gehlaut, Troy - International Academy Okma in Bloomfield Hills.
• Anusha Gupta, Troy - Troy High School in Troy School District.
• Emily Y. Hu, Ann Arbor - Huron High School in Ann Arbor Public Schools.
• Eric Liu, Bloomfield Hills - Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School in Bloomfield Hills.
• Krishna D. Mano, Grand Rapids - City High Middle School in Grand Rapids Public Schools.
• Audrey Pierce Mason, Traverse City - Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Scholar in Arts.
• Saghana Parasuraman, South Lyon - South Lyon East High School in South Lyon Community Schools.
• Brianna Park, Rochester - International Academy Okma in Bloomfield Hills.
• Ajay Singh Raj Purohit, Ann Arbor - Greenhills School in Arbor.
• Sahas Ravoor, Rochester Hills - Athens High School in Troy School District.
• Janet Rucker, Coldwater - Coldwater Senior High School in Coldwater Community Schools, Scholar in Arts.
• Siddh Amit Sheth, Rochester Hills - Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Community Schools.
• Mayas Smith, Bloomfield Hills - Bloomfield Hills High School in Bloomfield Hills Schools.
• Benjamin D. Wayne, Reed City - Big Rapids High School in Big Rapids Public Schools, Scholar in Arts.
• Janelle W. Yao, Portage - Portage Central High School in Portage Public Schools.
• William M. Zhang, Bloomfield Hill - International Academy Okma in Bloomfield Hills.
• Daniel Hanxiang Zhou, Ann Arbor - Skyline High School in Ann Arbor Public Schools.

For the general component of the program, to be eligible students must score exceptionally well on either the SAT of the College Board or the ACT of the American College Testing Program and be nominated by their chief state school officer or by one of the scholarship program’s partner recognition organizations based on outstanding scholarship.

For the arts component, to be eligible students must demonstrate academic achievement and talents in the visual, creative and performing arts and be nominated by their chief state school officer.

Find additional information at www.ed.gov/psp.

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