Greenhills Students Named U.S. Presidential Scholars
Two Ann Arbor school graduates are the only Michigan honorees this year, alongside a Greenhills English teacher recognized as a Distinguished Teacher.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Secondary Education
Alexandra DaSilva and Ajay Purohit, members of Greenhills School's class of 2026, were named U.S. Presidential Scholars, among 161 students selected nationwide from more than 6,700 qualifiers. Greenhills English teacher Mark Randolph was also named a 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Distinguished Teacher.
Why it matters
The Presidential Scholars program is invitation-only and students cannot be nominated by their school, so selection rests on a review committee's assessment of academic achievement, leadership and service, and an essay. For Ann Arbor families, the recognition highlights the local high school's standing in a nationally competitive honor.
Nationwide, 161 students were chosen from more than 6,700 qualifiers, and Michigan had 188 qualifiers with only DaSilva and Purohit selected as honorees this year. Randolph was one of 159 educators named Distinguished Teachers, one of two from Michigan.
The players
U.S. Department of Education
The federal department that administers the Presidential Scholars Program and released this year's list of honorees.
Greenhills School
A private school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, whose students and teacher were recognized in this year's program.
The details
DaSilva studies public policy and international affairs at Princeton University, while Purohit studies history, government and philosophy at Harvard University. Greenhills' Ethics Bowl Green Squad also finished a state tournament with a 7-0 record.
Timeline
Spring 2026: Nineteen Michigan students were named semifinalists.
October 2026: The U.S. Department of Education released the list of honorees.
November 5, 2026: Greenhills issued a news release announcing the honorees.
Season Trajectory
The Presidential Scholars Program, created in 1964 to honor top graduating seniors, continues its annual cycle of selecting honorees from a pool of thousands of qualifiers. This year's selections add two more Ann Arbor students to the program's roll of recognized high school graduates.
Students interested in the Presidential Scholars program should know that applications are by invitation only, so families cannot nominate candidates through the school. Academic achievement, leadership and service, and an essay are the factors a review committee considers.
The takeaway
Recognition in a national program like this one reflects sustained academic work and service over several years. Families and students can use the published criteria as a guide to what the selection process values.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education for context on how top students are recognized nationally.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mlive.
