PLYMOUTH NOTCH, Vt., May 22, 2019 — The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation is pleased to announce the four recipients of the 2019 Coolidge Scholarship. This year more than 3,400 students, the most ever, competed for this full-ride merit scholarship, which can be used at any accredited college or university in the United States. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, room, and board for four years of undergraduate study. In addition to the four Scholars, the Foundation has named the top 100 overall applicants Coolidge Senators.

The recipients of the 2019 full-ride Coolidge Scholarship are:

Nico Brayton, Middlebury, Vermont, Middlebury Union High School
Julianna Lee, Demarest, New Jersey, Northern Valley Regional High School
Katherine McPhie, Irvine, California, University High School
Mitchell Robson, Marblehead, Massachusetts, St. John’s Preparatory School

Bios for each recipient can be viewed here.

These recipients emerged from a group of twelve distinguished finalists, including:

Aishani Aatresh, Saratoga, California
Aidan Bell, San Diego, California
Anna Brooks, Richmond, Texas
Katherine He, Racho Palos Verdes, California
Tiana Luo, Chicago, Illinois
Sophia Pribus, Riverwoods, Illinois
Jacob Simmons, Sandy, Utah
Savitha Srinivasan, Bellevue, Washington

The Coolidge Scholarship and Senator Programs honor America’s thirtieth president and seek to elevate the values for which President Coolidge stood. This year, in addition to other requirements, all applicants completed two essays on Coolidge, including one asking how Coolidge would address the federal debt of today. “Americans underrate Coolidge,” said Amity Shlaes, Coolidge Foundation chairman, noting that Coolidge led Congress in cutting the debt of the 1920s. “We are pleased that 3,400 of America’s brightest minds have had the chance to get to know Coolidge’s values and achievements this year. It was wonderful to see the variety of solutions these young thinkers came up with,” Shlaes said.

The main criterion that distinguishes Coolidge Scholars and Senators is academic excellence. Students must also demonstrate a keen interest in public policy, an appreciation for the values Coolidge championed, a record of service, and humility. The Scholarship is non-partisan and winners may pursue any academic discipline they choose.

Matthew Denhart, Coolidge Foundation president, remarked, “Since the launch of the Scholarship and Senator Programs four years ago, thousands of America’s most promising future leaders have been drawn to Coolidge. We are pleased with the impact these programs are having in introducing the lessons and values of our thirtieth president to today’s young people.”

Students apply for the scholarship during their junior year of high school. Coolidge Scholars are selected through a multi-stage review process. Semifinalist juries meet across the country to consider top applicants. Twelve finalists are invited to Finalist Interview Weekend at the Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, where they interview with the Coolidge Scholars Finalist Jury, chaired by former Vermont governor and Coolidge Foundation Vice-Chairman James H. Douglas.

Speaking on behalf of the finalist jury, Gov. Douglas said: “Year after year we are impressed by the level of achievement demonstrated by Coolidge Scholarship applicants. This makes the work of our juries difficult, but leaves us confident that America’s future is in good hands. It is an honor for the Coolidge Foundation to invest in these young people and we look forward to following their successes for years to come.”

Over the summer, both scholarship winners and Coolidge Senators are invited to participate in the Coolidge Senators’ Summit, an education program, in Washington, DC. Each of the Coolidge Senators also receive a modest, one-time, scholarship.

The top 100 applicants to the Coolidge Scholarship have earned the distinction of Coolidge Senator.

For more information about the Coolidge Scholarship and Senator Programs, please visit CoolidgeScholars.org.

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