Local students recognized as Presidential Scientists in Vermont – The Manchester Journal

Montpelier – four local students have recently been recognized in the State House as Presidential Scientists in Vermont, recognizing exceptional achievements in academic achievements, public services and leadership roles.

“The class of presidential scientists since 2025 embodies what Vermont’s education system makes,” said the Secretary of Education, Zoe Sonders. “These students are leaders in their schools, imitation models of their peers and important members of their communities. I am glad to congratulate these exceptional students and their families for this exciting achievement.”

Presidential scientists are recognized in three categories: general, arts and career technical education. Students are selected on the basis of nominations by teachers and administrators, and in the spirit of Vermont Student Agencies, students are also able to nominate themselves, according to a press release from the Ministry of Education.

Three of the local recipients originally from Berne and Burton Academy in Manchester. The senior Vincy Chan, recognized in the general category, “made a significant contribution through her leadership and advocacy,” according to a message in the BBA press. Chan’s leadership extends beyond the classroom, as she is also the manager of Vermont Girls State, an intern at the US Congress campaign Beka Balint and President of Students on Color Alliance (SoCA).

She is especially proud to have been creating a peer teaching program that has helped over 40 students since its inception, she said.

“Knowing that my actions have a greater goal-independent of whether at the local level, the state, or on a national scale, evaluates every day,” says Chan, who plans to pursue international relations at the University of Pennsylvania and seeks to study Immigration legislation.

Senior Jackson Kitts is described by the BBA as a “powered student, athlete and innovator”. KITS is a four -year -old tennis player of Varsiti, participates in Model Un and Debate Club and is captain of the team of the scientific Olympiad and president of the chess club. His project reflects this unique mix of creativity and compassion, with an emphasis on developing a chess version, tailored to people with ADHD and memory loss.

His passion for research and training extends to his future ambitions in journalism and social media, where he hopes to use AI and retrieve data to restore confidence and honesty in the news. KITS completed an internship at the Manchester Journal in the fall of 2024.

“I am proud of my work, creating a version of chess that helps people learn and remember the cognitive benefits of the game,” Kitts said.

Chan and Kitts will be invited to apply for the US Presidential Scientists Program who will announce their winners in the spring.

Emma Sutworth, also a senior in the BBA, received an honorary mention in the category of arts for their bright works of art, exploring the connection between humans, animals and the environment.

As the captain of the Burton and Burton Cycling Team, Soututurt also encouraged a sense of belonging and companionship among her teammates – a role she says is particularly proud.

“I loved to be part of this incredible team and I would miss them when I finished,” she said. Sutworth plans to continue the environmental and biology sciences, striving to make a significant contribution to the preservation of the natural world.

Danika Orava by Long Trail School in Dorset, which was also recognized by an honorary mention in the arts, said they were “shocked” after receiving news about the award, which they described as a “huge honor”.

“I am really happy that my art resonates with the people who reviewed my work,” Orava said. “I am most surprised that I was the only one who received a Long Trail nomination because I know so many incredible performers with whom I am a friend.”

“I am really grateful to Scott McGrath, who shared the forum of the presidential award with me, and my art teachers Ian Moster and Lena Warner, who were huge pillars for support for me,” they added.

Moster, a LTS visual arts teacher, said Orava works “mercilessly” to improve his skills through activities, including woodworking, designing bicycle cabinets or cover for the yearbook, participation in theater productions and more.

“Danika has made some of the most beautiful works of art in the campus of Long Trail School and beyond,” Mosher said. “Teachers are amazed at the dedication and skill that Danica puts into her works of art. Danica has the ability to show great depth, personal meaning and to emphasize important reasons that make her not only a great artist but also an incredible person.”

Additional Vermont students are invited to apply for the US Department of Education based on their SAT and/or ACT results. Up to 161 students are named as national presidential scientists each year – one of the highest national honors for high school students.

The US presidential scholarship program was established in 1964 through an executive order of President Lyndon B. Johnson to recognize and honor some of the most famous higher school adults in the nation. In 1979, the program was expanded to recognize students who demonstrated exceptional talent in visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again expanded to recognize students who demonstrate career and technical education.