13 Maryland Public HS Students Named U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalists

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13 Maryland Public HS Students Named U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalists

BALTIMORE (May 29, 2026) – Thirteen Maryland public high school students from five school systems are among the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program semifinalists.

Established in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program honors the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Up to 161 students nationwide will be named U.S. Presidential Scholars by the U.S. Department of Education. Scholars are selected based on their accomplishments across many areas, including academic and artistic achievement, career and technical education (CTE) success, leadership, and school and community involvement. 

“We are unbelievably proud by the national recognition for our students’ academic, artistic and career and technical education accomplishments,” said Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools. “These students are among the best and the brightest and we wish them well during the final round of the selection process.”

The Maryland public school semifinalists are:

Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Nora B. Devine – Severna Park High School (CTE)

Calvert County Public Schools
Kayla Rae Jones – Patuxent High School (CTE)

Howard County Public School System
Nikhil R. Maddirala – Marriott Ridge High School 
Advik Rai – River Hill High School 
Chelsea I. Sun – Atholton High School (CTE)
Jayen A. Tolia – Reservoir High School

Montgomery County Public Schools
Mayme Rose Killeen – Walt Whitman High School 
Anya Frances Kleinman – Richard Montgomery High School
Cooper Liu Li – Montgomery Blair High School 
Grace E. Li – Richard Montgomery High School
Sherry Lin – Richard Montgomery High School
Aditya Purohit – Richard Montgomery High School

Washington County Public Schools
Ella Bryn Rechtorovic – Williamsport High School (Arts)

A total of 14 Maryland public and private school students are among the 627 semifinalists nationwide this year, including Joseph Michael Doherty from Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda.

For more information, visit www.ed.gov/psp.

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