YoungArts

Each year, 20 YoungArts Finalists are named U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. At the request of The Commission on Presidential Scholars, which is appointed by the President of the United States, National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, through its YoungArts program serves as the exclusive nominating agency for U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. Participants in the YoungArts program are the only students eligible to receive the designation of Presidential Scholars in the Arts (PSA), based on their artistic and academic achievements. Being named a Presidential Scholar is the highest scholastic honor available to graduating high school seniors. Each year, a group of 60 PSA nominees are selected from the 150 YoungArts Finalists. From these students, 20 winners are chosen by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and named U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, alongside 120 academic scholars at a White House ceremony. In addition to this once in a lifetime honor, the visual artists, photographers and writers present their work in an exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the performing artists perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; truly a life changing experience for any young artist.

This year’s events in celebration of the 2010 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Details below.

Celebrate the 2010 U.S. Presidential Scholars with an exhibition of works at the Smithsonian American Art Museum with artwork and readings by the 2010 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. 

Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and G Streets, NW

When: Sunday, June 20, 2010. 5:00pm: Exhibition Viewing 6:00pm: Writers’ Reading and Cinematic Arts Screening. 

This is a FREE event. No RSVP or ticket required. 

Celebrate the 2010 U.S. Presidential Scholars with an evening of performances by the 2010 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. The performance will be held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, June 21 at 7:30pm. It is FREE and open to the public. 

To reserve your tickets

Call the Presidential Scholar line AFTER JUNE 5 at 202.401.0961 or email: presidential.scholars@ed.gov

General public tickets can be picked up at the U.S. Presidential Scholars will-call table in front of the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Monday, June 21, starting at 5:30pm.  Tickets not picked up by 7:15 p.m. will be released on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Press Release for the 2010 Presidential Scholars in the Arts Winners

Meet the 2010 Class of Presidential Scholars in the Arts

2010 Presidential Scholars in the Arts

• Matthew Brailas: Winner in Writing, Austin, TX, Westlake High School 
• Luke Celenza: Winner in Jazz, Bedford, NY, Fox Lane High School
• Bobby Chen: Winner in Music, Newton, MA, Phillips Academy 
• Austin Goodwin: Winner in Dance, Plano, TX, Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual & Performing Arts
• John Goss: Winner in Photography, Bellaire, TX, Kinkaid School
• Uchechi Kalu: Winner in Writing, Orangeburg, SC, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities
• Kelley Katzenmeyer: Winner in Cinematic Arts, Durham, NC, North Carolina School of the Arts
• Blaine Krauss: Winner in Theater, St. Petersburg, FL, Gibbs Senior High School
• Robert Moore: Winner in Dance, Porter, TX, High School for the Performing & Visual Arts
• Phoebe Nir: Winner in Writing, New York, NY, Fieldston School 
• Sean Plumb: Winner in Voice, Los Angeles, CA, Loyola High School
• Jake Ross: Winner in Writing, Greenville, SC, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities
• Ida Saki: Winner in Dance, Plano, TX, Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual & Performing Arts
• Michael Silberblatt: Winner in Theater, Coronado, CA, Coronado High School
• Austin Taylor: Winner in Music, Plano, TX, St. Mark’s School of Texas
• Michael Taylor: Winner in Music, Arlington, TX, Home Schooled 
• Erica Vlahinos: Winner in Theater, Castle Rock, CO, Douglas County High School
• Alexander Vollmer: Winner in Voice, Marietta, GA, Pebblebrook High School
• Connor Watumull: Winner in Visual Arts, Dallas, TX, St. Mark’s School of Texas
• Lauren Williams: Winner in Music, Northbrook, IL, Chicago Academy for Arts