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. Click here for more information.
The following students were chosen by the Ohio Department of Education, Office of CTE staff as 2023 nominees to the US Presidential Scholars Program/CTE Component:
Brianna Norman, Mahoning County Career & Technical Center - Biomedical Science Program
Instructor: Robert Miller
Brianna Norman is a Western Reserve senior graduating from MCCTC’s prestigious Biomedical Science Program upholding a 4.0 GPA and 28 ACT while also taking the most rigorous course load including 47 CCP hours and 6 CTAG credit hours for a total of 53 college credits. Brianna sought out this career path to help others with vision issues and to leave high school just shy of an associate’s degree.
Brianna’s accomplishments have not come without adversity, she was born with a lazy eye and poor vision undergoing 4 surgeries and still requiring corrective lenses to be able to see. Brianna understands the miracle of sight and does not take her abilities for granted. Brianna’s adversity has inspired her to first major in Chemical Engineering to research and develop a new drug or procedure to assist with vision deficiencies. She then plans to become an Opthamologist and be able to not only develop procedures to improve or grant vision, but also perform the surgeries herself.