American Heritage Schools continued its academic achievements with 15 students from the Class of 2024 (eight from the Broward Campus and seven from the Palm Beach Campus) earning nominations for the Presidential Scholars Award. The Presidential Scholars Award is considered the most prestigious recognition for distinguished graduating high school seniors in the U.S.
The students from the two campuses comprise 12% of all Presidential Scholar Candidates in Florida. The Broward campus has the highest number of Presidential Scholar candidates among all schools in Florida, while the Palm Beach Campus is ranked as the top school in Palm Beach County and second in Florida for the highest number of Presidential Scholar candidates.
“Being a presidential scholar is an extraordinary academic achievement, and we are immensely proud of our students who have earned this prestigious honor,” Dr. Doug Laurie says, president of American Heritage Schools. “It reflects their dedication, intellect, and commitment to excellence and serves as a testament to their hard work and determination.”
The United States Presidential Scholars Program was created by the President’s Executive Order in 1964 to acknowledge and celebrate distinguished graduating high school seniors. The program was later expanded in 1979 to recognize students who exhibit outstanding visual, creative, and performing arts abilities. In 2015, the program was extended to identify students with exceptional aptitude and accomplishments in career and technical education.
Around 500 students will be chosen as semifinalists and referred to the Commission for further consideration. In April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars will evaluate the applications and select 161 remarkable students for the nation’s highest academic award. The selection criteria are based on the candidates’ academic achievements, artistic accomplishments, essays, school evaluations, transcripts, evidence of community service, leadership skills, and proven commitment to high standards.
The students from American Heritage Schools who have been named candidates include:
Broward Campus:
- Ethan Brady, Weston resident
- Yana Danzig, Davie resident
- Cayden Forman, Weston resident
- Ellaheh Gohari, Pembroke Pines resident
- Taeyoung Kim, Davie resident
- Rithvik Marri, Weston resident
- Kaushal Vedula, Pembroke Pines resident
- Aaron Zhang, Weston resident
Palm Beach Campus:
- Drake Austin, Boca Raton resident
- Jesse Brodtman, Wellington resident
- Daniel Crum, Boca Raton resident
- Bradley Frishman, Boca Raton resident
- Isidoro Lapidot, Royal Palm Beach resident
- Rayan Rahmani, Boca Raton resident
- Ryan Rao, Boca Raton resident
Each June, the National Recognition Program in Washington, D.C., honors the U.S. Presidential Scholars for their outstanding accomplishments. As a tribute to their achievement, the Scholars are presented with the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a ceremony sponsored by the White House.
For more information about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program and American Heritage Schools, please visit Ahschool.com/presidential-scholars-2024.
