NWSA Students Named 2018 U.S. Presidential Scholars

New World School of the Arts alumni Ishmael Gonzalez and Elena Gonzalez were named 2018 United States Presidential Scholars in the Arts in May.

The 54th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars recognized 161 high school seniors as scholars for their accomplishments in academic, art and technical fields.

“I am incredibly honored to have gotten this award,” Elena Gonzalez said. “This [accomplishment] marks a point of growth and realization that I can continue doing anything my heart desires. It just keeps going from here.”

Ishmael Gonzalez, 17, and Elena Gonzalez, 18, both studied musical theater at NWSA and were nominated by the YoungArts Foundation, a program that scouts and mentors students in the arts, to be Presidential Scholars.

“This [is] a huge accomplishment that has opened up many doors,” Ishmael Gonzalez said. “To believe that 161 of the brightest students in all of the United States could be in one space, and me as one of twenty scholars who are in the arts, was just so wonderful to experience.”