Willington Resident Named 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate

STORRS, CT – A Willington resident has been named a candidate for the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, established in 1964 by executive order of the president, recognizes and honors distinguished graduating high school seniors for academic achievement, leadership and contributions beyond the classroom. In 1979 and again in 2015, the program was expanded to include students with exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts and students demonstrating excellence in career and technical education.

Students were selected as candidates based on academic excellence and high standardized test scores or by nomination from state education officials. Candidacy in the program is by invitation only; students cannot apply independently.

The local student is Sunipun Biswas, who hails from Willington and attends E. O. Smith High School.

Statewide, more than 180 students from Connecticut were named candidates for the 2026 class, which is narrowed to approximately 650 semifinalists before the final selection of up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars nationwide.

Final scholars, selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars appointed by the president, will be honored later this year and receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion, typically presented in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Students named to the candidate list represent a broad cross-section of outstanding academic achievement and community involvement and reflect the strong academic programs at Glastonbury High School.