Aleena Nielson, Vista Grande High School, has been selected as one of five Arizona nominees for the 2021/22 U.S. Presidential Scholars in
Career and Technical Education (CTE). Aleena was selected by a review team consisting of CTE stakeholders based on evidence of academic rigor, technical competence, professional employability skills, ingenuity, and creativity. She was recognized by Cathy Raymond, Arizona State Director of CTE, on Tuesday, February 1, during the Casa Grande Union High School District (CGUHSD) Governing Board meeting.
All five nominees were selected by the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kathy Hoffman, and submitted by her office to the Commission on Presidential Scholars at the U.S. Department of Education. As a semifinalist nominee, she was invited to apply for the National Review by the Commission on Presidential Scholars at the U.S. Department of Education. Twenty outstanding U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education students will be recognized in May 2022.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in Career and Technical Education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. For more information, visit the Department of Education’s website for the U.S. Presidential Scholar's Program at
www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/index.html.
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[L-R] Dr. Tyrone Hall, CWO-3, Ret (Senior Marine Instructor), Dr. Anna Battle (Superintendent), Aleena Nielson (U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate), Cathy Raymond (Arizona State Director of CTE), and MSgt Jorge Rico (Marine Instructor).