SHREWSBURY – Aryan Kumar, a high school senior at the Advanced Math and Science Academy from Shrewsbury has been named as a 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholar.
Kumar was one of 161 seniors chosen by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars out of more than 5,000 candidates this year, according to a recent press release from the U.S. Department of Education.
Created in 1964, the Presidential Scholars Program aims to recognize and honor “some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.”
It also honors students who excel in visual, creative and performing arts, as well as technical education.
Kumar was one of two students from Massachusetts selected.
The commission’s selection process is based on students’ “academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.”
“It’s a very humbling experience as a whole,” Kumar told the Community Advocate following this honor. “I did not expect in my wildest dreams to win.”
Kumar said the award would motivate him to work very hard in the future, saying that he is starting to see the fruits of success from his hard work throughout high school.
Kumar added that he is planning to attend Washington University in St. Louis and will study Biology on the pre-med track.
He added that, for younger kids, it is important for them to be humble and give back to the community, and not just to focus on getting good grades and test scores.
“Our 2022 Presidential Scholars represent the best of America, and remind us that when empowered by education, there are no limits to what our young people can achieve,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in that previous Presidential Scholars announcement.
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