There are 88 counties in Ohio, each with its own career school system, and only five students statewide are chosen each year for U.S. Presidential Scholar Nominees in career technical education.
For Butler Tech, which this year is celebrating its half-century anniversary, to have three of those fives is a “remarkable accomplishment,” said Butler Tech Spokeswoman A.J. Huff.
“This reflects the excellence of our programs and this achievement is a testament to the dedication of our instructors, the rigor of our curriculum, and the hands-on, real-world experiences our students gain,” said Huff.
“These nominees are not just excelling academically but they are also demonstrating leadership, innovation and a commitment to serving their communities.”
The nominees are: Maryam Tunkara, a Lakota West High School student who takes classes at Butler Tech’s Bioscience Center and last year scored a perfect 36 on her ACT exam.
Kenneth Rakes of Ross High School, who is ranked number one in class GPA and learns via Butler Tech’s Business Management program while earning an ACT score of 35.
And Quinn Bonfield of Lakota East High School, who is a National Honors Society member president of the Sports Medicine program whom Butler Tech officials noted has “over 50 hours of career-based learning and resilient overcoming of personal challenges.”
Tunkara is also the first Butler Tech student to earn a perfect ACT score.
Butler Tech serves 11 local public school systems – and thousands of adult career education students – and is one of the largest county career education districts in Ohio.
Huff said dominating the state’s top five finalists “is unprecedented for Butler Tech.”
“In the past, we celebrated Jay Patel, who was nominated a few years ago and went on to become Ohio’s only U.S. Presidential Scholar in CTE that year and one of only twenty in the entire United States.”
“But having three out of Ohio’s five nominees in a single year is phenomenal and highlights the extraordinary impact of our programs,” she said.
Next the three teens will be recognized at the 2025 Ohio CTE Legislative Conference at the Ohio Statehouse on Feb. 5.
After that, their applications will undergo a rigorous review process by a committee of secondary and post-secondary education experts. This process evaluates academic achievement, leadership, service, personal character, and the quality of their essay.
Out of roughly 650 semifinalists nationally, the Commission on Presidential Scholars will review their applications in April and select up to 161 students as U.S. Presidential Scholars. These Scholars will be celebrated during the National Recognition Program, and each honoree will receive the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion in June.
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