South Mississippi students named Presidential Scholars candidates
Twenty-six students from South Mississippi schools have been named candidates in the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Three of those students — Erik “Talan” Lindmark of Pass Christian High and, Sohni Beamon of Gulfport High and Matthew Church of Ocean Springs High School, are candidates in Career and Technical Education.
They were nominated by state school officers based on accomplishments in career and technical education fields.
The program, established in 1964, recognizes students in academic success, leadership and service to school and community. Students recognized in the arts was added in 1979 and the career and technical scholars portion was added in 2015.
The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 citizens appointed by the President, will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the 161 Scholars in May. Of these, up to 20 will be selected as U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education.
U.S. Presidential Scholars are honored for their accomplishments in June. and are awarded a Presidential Scholars Medallion.
Students from South Mississippi who have been named candidates are:
Talisa N. Austin, Ocean Springs – Saint Martin High School
Sohni R. Beamon, Gulfport – Gulfport High School
Alexander R. Canode, Lucedale – George County High School
Matthew Church, Ocean Springs – Ocean Springs High School
Carter H. Clay, Gulfport – Gulfport High School
Silas F. Corder, Pascagoula – Pascagoula High School
Konner Craven, Gulfport – Harrison Central High School
Joseph P. Deano, Bay St Louis – Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science
William C. Fortenberry, Ocean Springs – Ocean Springs High School
Jose A. Garcia, Long Beach – Long Beach Senior High School
Abigail R. Glass, Long Beach – Long Beach Senior High School
Alexis Griffith, Long Beach – Long Beach Senior High School
Lillie R. Hickey, Ocean Springs – Ocean Springs High School
Theodore T. Lai, Gulfport – Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science
Julia J. Landry, Biloxi – Mississippi School of the Arts
Grace J. Lefort, Gulfport – Long Beach Senior High School
Erik T. Lindmark, Pass Christian – Pass Christian High School
Thomas H. Mueller, Biloxi – Biloxi High School
Colton M. Muraco, Kiln – Long Beach Senior High School
Nicholas P. Pagano, Diamondhead – Hancock High School
Jackson Pearce, Gulfport – Gulfport High School
Julia A. Philippoff, Ocean Springs – Ocean Springs High School
Marlie K. Rath, Long Beach – Long Beach Senior High School
Susannah M. Santos, Pascagoula – Pascagoula High School
David G. Williams, Bay Saint Louis – Saint Stanislaus College Prep
Jovi C. Womble, Ocean Springs – Ocean Springs High School
