15 Presidential Scholar Candidates Honored in the Class of 2026
Ranked #1 in Florida for Most Candidates
American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus, is proud to celebrate 15 outstanding students from the Class of 2026 who are now candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. This ranking makes our Broward campus the top school in Florida for the highest number of candidates this year. This achievement contributes to a long-standing tradition of academic excellence across our organization, contributing to the record-breaking total number of U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates at American Heritage Schools.
Chosen from nearly 3.6 million graduating seniors across the country, these students represent the best in academic achievement, leadership, and service. Our curriculum is designed to challenge students and give them a head start on their university goals. Aaron Alter, a National Merit Semifinalist, notes that the depth of the curriculum is a defining feature of the school. "The math program has allowed me to develop my passion because of the resources that they have and the incredible teaching," Aaron says. "The level of math that I have been able to learn at Heritage has been so ridiculously high, and you can't find it anywhere else. The classes that we have at the level that we have are unique to Florida, and it's unique to American Heritage."
This environment encourages students to stay hungry for knowledge. Samuel Danzig, who is headed to The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, believes the peer group is just as important as the coursework. "The truth is you always wanna be pushing yourself to move forward," Samuel explains. "I really pushed myself to try harder, and just all around to be a better student."
Heritage has taught me how to study and prepare myself to the point where, when I get to college, I'm going to thrive in class.
Henry Nathanson2026 Presidential Scholar Candidate - American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus
Success at American Heritage involves more than just grades; it is about building the habits required for a lifetime of achievement. Kelsey Montgomery, a National Merit Semifinalist, feels the school provided his with a competitive edge in her personal organization.
"I've built up a very good study technique, and I have very good time management skills, which Heritage has given me throughout my four years here," says Kelsey.
Our students also recognize the importance of using their education to help others. For Kaitlyn Lee, a National Merit Semifinalist, the ability to make an impact is a key part of her experience. "It's really fulfilling that we can use the skills that we learned at American Heritage to give back to our community," she shares.
Class of 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates
- Aaron Alter
- Daniel Cai
- Zayn Charania
- Lindsey Cheng
- Samuel Danzig
- Ishika Gadani
- Anisha Garg
- Alexey Guydouk
- Kaitlyn Lee
- Yechang Liu
- Rishitha Marri
- Kelsey Montgomery
- Henry Nathanson
- Darsh Patel
- Elizabeth Xiao
About the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program started in 1964 to honor the nation’s most distinguished high school seniors. It recognizes excellence in academics, the arts, and technical education. Each year, only 161 students are selected as U.S. Presidential Scholars, making this one of the most prestigious awards a student can receive.
American Heritage Schools is proud to support the Class of 2026 as they continue to reach their full potential. Congratulations to our 15 candidates on this remarkable achievement!
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