The Brookings School District is proud to announce that 12 Brookings High School seniors from the Class of 2026 have been named candidates for the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. This achievement also ties Brookings High School with Lincoln High School for 1st place in South Dakota for the number of 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates.
Recognized as one of the nation’s highest honors for graduating seniors, the program celebrates academic excellence, leadership, character, service, and achievement in the arts and career and technical education fields.
This year’s candidates are: Samuel Caugherty, Nana Dwomoh, Maya Hansen, Jay Harris, Taya Hasselhorst, Anika Hooda, Oliva Hove, Michelle Lam, Waylon Lowe, Joseph Michna, Mallory Wells, and Quinton Zhu.
More than 5,000 students nationwide were selected as candidates from nearly 3.6 million graduating seniors. Final scholars will be announced this summer by the U.S. Department of Education.
We are incredibly proud of these outstanding Bobcats and congratulate them on this remarkable achievement!
Pictured: Left to Right, Back Row: Nana Dwomoh, Maya Hansen, Mallory Wells, Waylon Lowe.
Left to Right, Front Row: Quinton Zhu, Jay Harris, and Joseph Michna.
Pictured: Left to Right, Back Row: Olivia Hove and Michelle Lam. Left to Right, Front Row: Taya Hasselhorst, Samuel Caugherty, and Anika Hooda.