Dublin Students Named U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates

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Two Dublin students, Ryan Lee and Pravarthika Pabbisetty from Dublin High School, were selected as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program, a U.S. Department of Education, invitation-only program honoring students demonstrating exceptional academic ability. They joined nine other candidates from the Tri-Valley region.

Why it matters

The U.S. Presidential Scholars program is a prestigious honor, with only 161 students nationwide selected each year. Being named a candidate is a significant achievement that can open doors for these high-performing students in terms of college admissions and scholarships.

The details

To be eligible for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program, students must be seniors graduating this spring with exceptional scores on the SAT or ACT, or be recognized for achievements in the arts or STEM. The two Dublin candidates, Ryan Lee and Pravarthika Pabbisetty, were selected alongside nine other Tri-Valley students from Amador Valley High School, Foothill High School, San Ramon Valley High School, and Dougherty Valley High School.

• The students were named as candidates in February 2026.

What’s next

The U.S. Department of Education will select the final 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars from the pool of candidates in the coming months.