Fourteen Orange County high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, placing them among the nation’s top graduating students recognized for academic achievement, artistic excellence, and leadership in career and technical education.
The U.S. Department of Education announced 621 semifinalists from a nationwide pool of more than 6,000 candidates. California accounts for 42 of the semifinalists, including 14 from Orange County.
Established in 1964 by executive order of the president, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was created to recognize and honor the country’s most distinguished graduating seniors. It was expanded in 1979 to include students with exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts, and again in 2015 to celebrate those excelling in career and technical education.
Students are invited to apply through multiple paths, including high scores on the SAT or ACT, nominations from their state’s chief school officer or recognition through national talent programs such as YoungArts. Candidates submit essays, school reports, self-assessments and transcripts, which are reviewed by an independent commission.
Up to 161 students are ultimately selected as U.S. Presidential Scholars — one of the highest honors a high school student can receive — with the final announcement expected in May.
Without further ado, here are the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program semifinalists from Orange County:
- Matthew Chang, Woodbridge High School, Irvine Unified School District
- Joelle Cheeseman, Northwood High School, Irvine Unified School District
- Hannah Cho, Pacific Academy – Irvine
- Riya Gupta, Northwood High School, Irvine Unified School District
- Ariana Kim, Orange County High School of the Arts
- Caroline Kim, Orange County High School of the Arts
- Noelle Kim, Fairmont High School
- Olivia Le, Orange County High School of the Arts
- Jaquelyn Nguyen, Fountain Valley High School, Huntington Beach Union High School District
- Victoria Cao Pham, Orange County High School of the Arts
- Jacob Scheff, Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
- Veronica Shao, Oxford Academy, Anaheim Union High School District
- Cloris Shi, Troy High School, Fullerton Joint Union High School District
- Aidan Zhang, Sage Hill School
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Seven standout high school artists were honored as winners of the Orange County Register’s 2025 Artist of the Year program, with six appearing live at a celebration at Chapman University.
- State leaders were briefed on the progress of California’s Multi-Tiered System of Support, which has improved student outcomes and alignment across initiatives, as OCDE and Butte County Office of Education seek continued funding to sustain the framework.
- Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen and County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean will co-host a free career exploration event for students and families on May 22 at Mile Square Regional Park, highlighting internships, training programs and career pathways in high-demand fields.
- Students from OCDE’s ACCESS and Connections programs were recognized for original essays and artwork exploring the meaning of Memorial Day in the 11th annual Jack R. Hammett Memorial Day Essay and Art Contest.
- OCDE hosted its annual OC Civic Learning Celebration on April 24, recognizing student civic engagement projects and schools advancing civics education efforts.
- Sunburst Youth Academy hosted a dedication ceremony Friday to unveil the Congresswoman Grace Napolitano Outdoor Learning Center, a $500,000 project honoring the retired lawmaker’s legacy and expanding educational opportunities for at-risk youth.
- Two schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District have transitioned to made-from-scratch menus, serving fresh meals like birria and salsas as lawmakers consider a bill to ban ultra-processed foods from California schools by 2032.
- Cypress and Loara high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District plan to install HALO smart sensors in bathrooms and locker rooms to detect vaping and other disturbances as part of a broader effort to discourage e-cigarette use on campus.
- Cassie Parham, a longtime administrator and former interim superintendent, has been appointed as the new superintendent of the Irvine Unified School District, succeeding Terry Walker after his 14-year tenure.
- Orange County high schools are preparing to celebrate the Class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies beginning in May and continuing through mid-June at campuses, stadiums and community venues across the region.
- Dr. Stefan Bean celebrated six educators named 2026 Teachers of the Year, recognizing their exceptional commitment to students and lasting impact in classrooms across the county.
- Seventh-graders at Thurston Middle School completed a semester-long environmental internship through Poseidon Education, presenting stormwater pollution solutions to local leaders as part of a hands-on STEAM course supported by the Orange County Public Works H2OC Stormwater Program.
- The Anaheim Elementary School Board has appointed a new trustee to fill a vacancy created by the removal of an elected official, according to the Voice of OC.
- San Jose high school students led an ethnic studies lesson on the Vietnamese refugee experience by sharing personal family stories, reflecting the goals of California’s new Southeast Asian Studies Model Curriculum — developed under OCDE’s leadership in response to Assembly Bill 167 — to deepen understanding of Vietnamese, Cambodian and Hmong American communities.
- The Orange County School of the Arts has offered Santa Ana Unified $4 million to settle a long-running lawsuit over special education funding, as the district reviews the proposal ahead of a May 21 deadline to respond.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.