For the CTE component of the program, students must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

• are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline;
• graduate or receive a high school diploma between January and August of 2025, the current program year;
• demonstrate academic achievement in career and technical programs; and
• are nominated by the New Jersey Department of Education.

Application for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only. Students may not apply individually to the program.

Academic rigor as calibrated to standards set by the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) and based in part on their high achievement reflected on their State’s academic assessments in the core academic subjects:

• An overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (unweighted).
• Grade point average in their selected career pathway of 3.25 with no grade below B-.

Technical competence as demonstrated by one or more of the following:

• Completion of a work-based or community-based learning experience (Note: The term ‘work-based learning’ means a program of structured work experiences (such as internships, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, school-based enterprises, and Supervised Entrepreneurial Experiences) that is coordinated with classroom-based learning and that is designed to enable students to learn and apply career and technical education skills and knowledge in a work context).
• Placing or receiving a medal in State and/or national Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) skills competition in student’s career area.
• Earning an industry-recognized certification/credential.

Employability skills as demonstrated by one or more of the following:

• Completion of a work-based learning experience that is an integral part of the curriculum of the program of study.
• Leadership role in a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) at local, state, or national level.
• Completion of a community service project or other student leadership activity in student’s career area of interest.

Ingenuity/Creativity/Problem Solving as demonstrated by one or more of the following:

• Solution to a real-world problem (e.g., developed electric car that goes faster than any before).
• Development of a new product/good or service (e.g., development of an app).

Application Pool: Program of Study (POS)

Preference is given to those students enrolled in POS viewed as the pillars of our nation’s economic growth, as identified by US ED (Healthcare, IT, Advanced Manufacturing, STEM, and Transportation.)

Evidence of eligibility will be submitted in NJ Homeroom, using the CTE Scholar Award folder. Provide as much evidence as possible to show students nominated by the school meet eligibility criteria to the fullest extent. If you do not have access to this application in NJ Homeroom, contact your district’s Homeroom Administrator.

Academic rigor-Upload each of the following to NJ Homeroom:

1. Official transcript through June 2024 showing the student has an overall GPA of 3.0 to 4.0.
   
   
2. The transcript should also include the student’s GPA in the NJ DOE approved program of study (POS). Both should be an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale.
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_Transcript
   
   
3. Approval letter for the student’s CTE program of study from CTE-DMS
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_POS
   
   

Technical Competence-Provide at minimum one example of the following:

1. Evidence the student has participated in a work-based learning (WBL) experience. Career preparation and training are preferred.
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_WBL
   
   
2. Evidence the student has participated in a community service project.
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_CommunityService
   
   
3. Evidence the student placed or won an award at a CTSO competition.
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_CTSOaward
   
   
4. Evidence the student earned an industry-recognized credential (IVC).
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_IVC

Employability Skills-Provide at minimum one example of the following:

1. Evidence the student has participated in a work-based learning (WBL) experience. Career preparation and training are preferred. Only submit if the experience is different from Technical Competence WBL.  Any WBL experience submitted for Technical Competence can be reviewed for both Technical Competence and Employability Skills.
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_WBL
   
   
2. Evidence the student has a leadership role in a CTSO.
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_CTSOleadership
   
   
3. Evidence the student has participated in a community service project. Only submit if the experience is different from Technical Competence community service project. Any community service submitted for Technical Competence can be reviewed for both Technical Competence and Employability Skills.
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_CommunityService

Ingenuity/Creativity/Problem Solving-Provide at minimum one example of the following:

1. Solution to a real-world problem (e.g., developed electric car that goes faster than any before).
   
   
2. Development of a new product/good or service (e.g., development of an app).
   File Name: 2025_School_LastName_StudentExample (If submitting more than one, place a _1, _2, etc. At the end)

Student Resume:

The nominated student should create a one-page resume using 12pt, simple black font.  Include IVCs (Tier 1 and 2), awards, accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and work experience.  Describe academic and CTE achievements, leadership roles and service to the school and community.
File Name: 2025_School_LastName_Resume

Student Essay:

The nominated student will write an essay. The essay should be 500 words, double-spaced, 12pt, using a simple font.  Include a header with the student's name, school and page number.  Provide a narrative account of your accomplishments and experiences in relation to your WBL or community service experience relating to your program of study.  Share why you chose your career path and how your technical and professional skills will enable your success in this field.  The use of AI is not permitted in the development of the essay.
File Name: 2025_School_LastName_Essay

Any eligible graduating senior from a public, parochial or independent school enrolled in an NJDOE approved CTE program of study may be nominated by their high school. Students may not self-nominate nor directly apply for this program. School staff may nominate one (1) student for the CTE component. Districts are to create an individual process to determine which student to nominate. Annually, a nomination and application form will be sent out to districts operating approved programs of study.

The applications are evaluated by the NJDOE and up to five (5) students for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) component are selected to apply for the U.S. Department of Education (U.S. ED) U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.  Once an application is submitted, NJDOE is to disclose which students were nominated from New Jersey.  Nominated students will receive an application to apply from U.S. ED to apply for the award if they are nominated.  A communication will be sent once the Presidential Scholars are announced with a link to the website where the names are posted.