Seven Mississippi high school seniors named semifinalists for 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars program

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 17, 2024

Seven Mississippi high school seniors named semifinalists for 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars program

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced today that seven Mississippi students have been named 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars semifinalists. The program honors the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.

The semifinalists are:

• Charles Frugé, Oxford High School
• Omair Jamil, DeSoto Central High School
• Noah Lee, Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science
• Payton Sanders, Pelahatchie Attendance Center
• Sydney Smith, Hattiesburg High School
• Kayla Truong, Northwest Rankin High School
• Iris Xue, Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science

Mississippi’s semifinalists were selected from among thousands of candidates nationwide. The semifinalists form the pool from which up to 161 students will be chosen a 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholar.

The 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be announced in early May. Scholars are chosen based on accomplishments in academic and artistic success, career and technical fields, leadership, and involvement in school and the community. The scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s young people.

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program honors the nation’s top-performing students with the prestigious award given to honorees during the annual ceremony in Washington D.C. The program was later expanded to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the arts and career and technical education fields.

Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

###