Kentucky Has Five U.S. Presidential Scholars Among 161 Outstanding Students Named in 2026

Kentucky Has Five U.S. Presidential Scholars Among 161 Outstanding Students Named in 2026

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Five Kentucky high school seniors earned selection among 161 students nationwide as the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Education.

The honored students from the Commonwealth are Hosamulhaq Brula of South Warren High School in Warren County, Samuel J Busse in the arts from Owensboro Independent, and Alexavier Colton Garrott in career and technical education from Madisonville North Hopkins High School in Hopkins County.

Deepika Koripelli of duPont Manual Magnet High School in Jefferson County Public Schools and Avneesh Mahesh Kudrimoti of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Fayette County complete the Kentucky group.

“It is a tremendous honor to see five of Kentucky’s public-school students recognized among this distinguished group of high-achieving students,” Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher said. “Their accomplishments reflect exceptional dedication and hard work, and they represent the promise and potential of students across the Commonwealth.”

Honorees are chosen by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars through an intensive review that assesses academic achievement, essays, school endorsements, proof of community involvement and leadership, as well as artistic and technical skills.

Five kentucky students named u s presidential scholars
Photo: kentuckyteacher.org

From a nationwide pool of 3.9 million graduating seniors, upwards of 6,700 applicants met the qualifications this year via top scores on the ACT or SAT tests administered by the College Board or through recommendations submitted by chief state school officers.

Mandated by Presidential Executive Order, the 2026 cohort features one female and one male student from every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American families living abroad, alongside 20 arts Scholars, 20 career and technical education Scholars, and 15 at-large Scholars.

Since its inception in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored approximately 8,800 of America’s top-performing students. The initiative broadened its scope in 1979 to acknowledge creative and artistic accomplishments, and again in 2015 to honor achievements within career and technical education.

Each member of the 2026 class will receive an engraved U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion, symbolizing their extraordinary accomplishments and bright futures.

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