Coronado High School graduate Maryiam Syed earned a spot among 161 students nationwide selected as 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars.
Syed is one of only two students from Nevada chosen for the honor, according to the Clark County School District. The other Nevada honoree is Daniel David Jackson of Proctor Hug High School in Reno, KOLO TV reported.
CCSD called the designation a "prestigious recognition."
Syed graduated in May 2026. She is attending the University of Arizona and will receive an engraved Presidential Scholars medallion, CCSD said in its Oct. 28 announcement.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon congratulated the scholars in a statement released Oct. 27, saying they "represent the exceptional caliber of character and intellect that our nation's future demands."
Syed credited Redell Young, an AP Biology, science and chemistry teacher at Coronado, as instrumental to her high school success. In the CCSD announcement, Syed said she was "especially elated" that Young was also recognized, though the district did not specify what form that recognition took.
"It's a blessing. It feels like all that I've worked for, and more importantly, how much my family, friends, and teachers cared for and believed in me, culminated into something on this large of a scale," Syed said.
The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects honorees through a process that evaluates academic excellence, artistic and technical talent, essays, school recommendations, and evidence of leadership and community service. This year, more than 6,700 candidates qualified from 3.9 million graduating high school seniors, based on SAT or ACT performance or nominations by chief state school officers.
The 2026 class includes one young man and one young woman from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. families living abroad. An additional 15 at-large scholars, 20 in the arts and 20 in career and technical education round out the class. The program has honored roughly 8,800 students since it began in 1964.
