Stevenson’s Rachel Varghese named 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholar
The U.S. Department of Education recently announced the selection of Rachel Varghese of Long Grove, who attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, as a 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholar.
Varghese is one of 161 exceptional American high school graduates who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, technical expertise, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community.
Each year, Presidential Scholars are chosen based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.
Of the 3.9 million students who graduated from high school this year, more than 6,400 candidates qualified for the 2026 awards through outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or nominations by chief state school officers.
As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, along with 15 at-large Scholars, 20 Scholars in the arts, and 20 Scholars in career and technical education.
Since its creation in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored approximately 8,000 of the nation’s top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students with exceptional talent in the visual, literary, and performing arts, and in 2015, it was further extended to recognize students with demonstrated ability and accomplishments in career and technical education.
Since 1983, each U.S. Presidential Scholar has had the opportunity to name their most influential teacher. These distinguished educators receive a personal letter of recognition from the Secretary of Education. This year, Varghese selected Mr. Paul Mazzuca of Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire for this honor.
A complete list of 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available at ed.gov/grants-and-programs/recognition-programs/us-presidential-scholars-program.