IB students honored as 2023 US Presidential Scholars

Abhirup Chandra Are

Millard North High School
Nebraska

"The IB program showed me the importance of immersing myself in all aspects of my education. Being recognized as a US Presidential Scholar is a representation of all the hard work and effort I have put in throughout my years in IB. The IB program gave me the platform to excel and elevate myself to the status of a US Presidential Scholar. The most memorable part of IB will undoubtedly be the community of diverse and driven learners that I had the opportunity to be a part of.”

Simar Bhatia

Portage Central High School
Michigan

"Being in the IB Program has engaged my desire to keep learning while challenging me to think deeper about critical problems that are associated with a wide range of disciplines. I am thankful for the opportunity to take classes through the IB program, as it has provided me a platform to expand upon my knowledge and grow as a student."

Jessie Bough

Lone Peak High School
Montana

"The IB program gave me well balanced exposure to both leadership on community initiatives as well as challenging me to aspire to high academic achievement. This turned out to be a perfect match for what the Presidential Scholarship encourages, recognizes and honors. I am excited to have represented my rural school and to have shown upcoming IB students what is possible! I am thrilled to be a member of the Scholars’ Class of 2023 and am excited to share this honor with peers from around the nation with similar aspirations."

Michael Ogden Chen

Hillcrest High School
Utah

"It is not just that the IB curriculum conferred upon me an academic and experiential preparation that firmly supported my pursuit of success in high school: going to an IB world school also brought me together with like-minded peers who I was able to form mutually beneficial bonds with as we navigated our way through high school. I am honored to have been selected as a US Presidential Scholar and will always be grateful for the IB’s role in aiding my attainment of this achievement and in my development as a whole.”

Nipun Gorantla

Marvin Ridge High School
North Carolina

“I am deeply honored to have been awarded the highly prestigious award of US Presidential Scholar based on my achievements in academics, community service, activity, and leadership. The International Baccalaureate program taught me not to simply ponder what the world could do for me, but what I could do for the world, constructing the foundation for my success as an academic and community-focused innovator. I regularly merge the IB’s values of academic discovery, personal innovation, and meaningful connection to drive positive, tangible change within my global community.”

Archit Kalra

Carmel High School
Indiana

“Joining the IB program at my school introduced me to a tight-knit community of 40 students and allowed me to meet people with different passions, from short film directing to über-competitive rugby. My IB community has taught me to question everything around me and come up with comprehensive answers, even if it requires overhauling the way I view the world and help those around me.”

Adnan Mahir Khan

International Academy
Michigan

“I have found the International Baccalaureate learning experience to be uniquely helpful in translating what I’ve learned in the classroom to the real world. I believe this is because of the interconnections I was always encouraged to explore within and outside the IB curriculum. When faced with a challenge, when everyone tells me what can’t be done, it’s trained me to search for new ways to respond staying focused 100% on what can be done.”

Priyanka Mathews

Hillcrest High School
Utah

"The IB Diploma Program pushed me academically, as I explored subjects at a deeper level than I ever had before. My favorite part was the holistic nature of the program, which nurtured cross-disciplinary connections that brought concepts into a practical light. I was beyond surprised and humbled when I heard about becoming a Presidential Scholar, given how qualified my fellow semi-finalists are. However, I believe it is a mark of how well the IB program has prepared me for any of my future endeavors.”