About U.S. Presidential Scholars Foundation

In a 1964 White House ceremony, President Lyndon B. Johnson challenged the first class of U.S. Presidential Scholars—all seniors in high school, “to give your talents and your time in our land and in all lands to cleaning away the blight, to sweeping away the shoddiness, to wiping away the injustices and the inequities of the past so that all…may live together in a great world community of decency and excellence.”

Each year, only 161 students are named U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. Newly named Scholars are honored in Washington D.C. during a National Recognition Program, hosted by the United States Department of Education. The Scholars, who come from all walks of life and excel in their academic and artistic achievements, represent the promise of greatness in young people. Unfortunately, due to health concerns posed by the global pandemic, the 2020, 2021, and 2022 classes of U.S. Presidential Scholars were recognized with an online program. At this time, resumption of the in-person recognition program in Washington, DC looks uncertain.

U.S. Presidential Scholars Foundation (PSF) was established in 1989 and is committed to meeting President Johnson’s challenge. It is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that exists independently of the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

The Foundation is led by and for U.S. Presidential Scholar alumni. It fosters a network and an inclusive environment to support and amplify the diverse social, intellectual, and professional endeavors of U.S. Presidential Scholars within their communities. Through programs, events, and alumni activities, PSF works toward a robust and shared vision that fosters opportunities for U.S. Presidential Scholars to engage with each other and participate in intergenerational service, work, and partnerships around the globe.

Currently, there are more than 8,000 Scholars making extraordinary advances around the globe. The Foundation implements goal-driven programs and activities that cultivate, connect, and celebrate U.S. Presidential Scholars—past and present.

Our Core Purpose

U.S. Presidential Scholars Foundation (PSF) strives to support and connect U.S. Presidential Scholars locally, nationally, and around the globe to each other so they can more effectively advance the arts, science, culture, business, education, and civic life of the nation.

Our Vision

U.S. Presidential Scholars Foundation fosters opportunities for U.S. Presidential Scholars to engage with each other and participate in intergenerational service, work, and partnerships around the globe.

Our Goals

  1. Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of life for U.S. Presidential Scholars and ensure the policies and programs of Presidential Scholars Foundation, and its work with affiliates, are inclusive.

  2. Sustain Alumni Association Committee programs that foster community, fellowship, and networking for U.S. Presidential Scholars across generations.

  3. Conduct programs to enhance the experience of newly recognized Presidential Scholars, selected by the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program of the Department of Education and by YoungArts

  4. Strengthen and advocate for the roles of the arts and humanities, STEAM, and career and technical education in American culture through the work of alumni and partner organizations.

  5. Foster ongoing innovation, leadership, and service by U.S. Presidential Scholars through mentoring, education, and seed grants.

  6. Promote lifelong intergenerational learning within the U.S. Presidential Scholars community and beyond.

  7. Expand participants and partners to support and strengthen PSF’s Strategic Goals and Programs.

  8. Regularly develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies and increase the ability to benchmark programmatic outcomes and ensure the integrity of its business resources.

Our Core Values

  1. Service: PSF creates an environment that supports and amplifies the diverse social, intellectual, and professional endeavors of U.S. Presidential Scholars within their communities.

  2. Integrity: PSF is committed to high ethical standards and treating others with dignity and respect.

  3. Diversity: PSF honors and embraces individual, cultural, and other contextual differences in all interactions.

  4. Advocacy: PSF promotes excellence in academics, leadership, community service, and the arts.

  5. Collaboration: PSF partners with the U.S. Department of Education, YoungArts, and other allied organizations to develop and achieve shared goals.

  6. Visionary Leadership: PSF approaches its core purpose with optimism, energy, and professionalism, working pragmatically with "what is" while moving toward "what can be."

YoungArts Partnership

YoungArts is the exclusive nominating agency for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. Since 1982, U.S. Presidential Scholars Foundation and YoungArts have partnered to recognize twenty (20) YoungArts award winners who are high school seniors, included in the 161 Scholars recognized annually. Scholars in the Arts excel in the following disciplines: Classical Music, Dance, Design Arts, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice, and Writing.

The partnership with YoungArts is highly valued by PSF for its collaboration, leadership, funding, and positive synergy.