Dec. 20, 2024

NU formally recognizes Millard high school students with perfect ACT scores

Contact: Cara Pesek carapesek@nebraska.edu 402-570-1585 (cell)

The University of Nebraska System and Millard Public Schools recognized 10 students from the MPS district who have each achieved a perfect score on the ACT. The formal recognition took place during an event Wednesday afternoon at the Millard North Public High School, 1010 S. 144th St., in Omaha.

During the event, each student was recognized as qualifying for the university’s Presidential Scholarshttps://nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars program. Launched in February of 2024, the Presidential Scholars program provides a full-ride academic scholarship, plus a $5,000 annual stipend, to every high school senior who graduates from a Nebraska high school, receives a perfect 36 on the ACT and attends college at a University of Nebraska campus. The program aims to keep top Nebraska students in Nebraska, as well as to challenge them with wide-ranging and valuable opportunities during their time at the university.

In the fall of 2024, the university welcomed 17 students in its initial Presidential Scholar cohort. In the fall of 2025, the University will expand the programhttps://nebraska.edu/news-and-events/news/2024/11/university-of-nebraska-to-expand-presidential-scholars-program to up to 50 top Nebraska scholars, including both students with perfect ACT scores and other top scorers.

Students recognized during Wednesday’s program are:

* Anuj Singh, Millard North * Caleb Yeh, Millard North * Haamiz Humayun Kabir, Millard North * Meghna Adduri, Millard North * Elise Cherek, Millard North * Dagny Edward, Millard North * Owen Hickenbottom, Millard North * Kyle Huser, Millard North * Isabella Zhang, Millard North * Titus Willems, Millard West

“The University of Nebraska has for a very long time been committed to retaining the best and the brightest, and at the same time providing affordable, attainable education to the state of Nebraska,” said NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.

But it’s not just the access and affordability that make the university special, Dr. Gold said. It’s also the caliber of academic programs.

“Our goal here is not to just provide unique financial support,” said Dr. Gold. “More importantly, and most importantly to me, is the uniqueness of the academic programs that you’ll be able to pursue.”

Those programs include highly competitive opportunities in engineering, medicine, emerging media arts, and much more.

Those programs also factor into why Millard North senior Anuj Singh, who aspires to a career in medicine, is considering the University of Nebraska for college.

“Medicine has always interested me because it combines science with being able to help people,” said Singh, whose parents both work for the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Singh said he has worked hard throughout school, and he appreciated Wednesday’s ceremony, as well as the scholarship opportunity the Presidential Scholars program presents.

“I think it’s a validation of that work I put in,” he said.

The event was also attended by NU and MPS administrators; members of the NU Board of Regents and the MPS School Board; Nebraska state senators; other elected officials; family, friends and teachers of the recognized students, and other high-achieving MPS students.

It was a fitting recognition for the 10 potential Presidential Scholars, said Millard Public Schools Superintendent John Schwartz.

“What they’ve accomplished is rare and it’s exceptional,” said Dr. Schwartz. “This is really an extraordinary recognition.”

An initiative between NU and the state of Nebraska, the Presidential Scholars program is currently accepting applications from Nebraska students with ACT scores between 32 and 35. Including the students with perfect ACT scores, a total of 50 students will be accepted into the fall 2025 cohort.

For more information or application materials, visit: https://nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars.