Nine local students – six from Springfield, one each from Highlandville, Lebanon and Webb City are 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars candidates. It’s a huge honor – only about 5,000 are chosen nationwide from more than 3.6 million students expected to graduate this spring. Those students are now in the running to be among up to 161 students in the U.S. to be named Presidential Scholars.
A letter sent to one of the local candidates, Sophy Wickham-Zhou, states that inclusion in the program is “one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected based on superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.”
Wickham-Zhou is a student in Central High School’s International Baccalaureate Program.
“For me, this means that I and people like myself who are about to be the next voices in this country are being recognized and being given a chance to have a venue through which our efforts can be recognized and are recognized as the next generation of voices and as people who can and will contribute to any and all progress that will happen,” she said…