Linn-Mar High’s Tejas Gururaja named U.S. Presidential Scholar

MARION — Linn-Mar High School senior Tejas Gururaja is one of four students in Iowa to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar, a recognition for students’ accomplishments in academics, the arts and career and technical education fields.

Gururaja, 18, is a three-year All-State musician, twice for vocals and once for violin; played the lead in his high school production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”; and was the featured soloist this year in his school’s show choir. He also plays jazz piano at Linn-Mar.

Last year, Gururaja “reached the pinnacle of success,” winning the Class 4A Lower High School Classical men’s division in the National Teachers of Singing competition July 1, 2022, in Chicago. Gururaja has been training with the Barrett Vocal Arts Institute in Cedar Rapids since he was a freshman in high school.

After graduation, he hopes to find a program where he can pursue a dual degree in vocal performance and some aspect of STEM studies, like chemical engineering or biomedical engineering.

Gururaja was one of eight local students celebrated April 22 in The Gazette’s first Excellence in the Arts event, recognizing students who are doing incredible things in visual, digital and performing arts.

Only 161 high school seniors across the country are being recognized for their accomplishments with the U.S. Presidential Scholar award. Other Iowa students named a 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar are Alaina Marie Whittington from Diagonal, Eshaan Chandani from Johnston and Claire Gu from West Des Moines.

“U.S. Presidential Scholars have always represented the future of our country and the bright promise it holds,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement Wednesday. “ I want each of these remarkable students to know: your passion and intellect, pursuit of excellence, and spirit of service are exactly what our country needs.”

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.

Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from the nation’s high school this year, more than 5,000 candidates qualified for the 2023 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by school officers, other partner recognition organizations and YoungArts, the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.

The 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education.

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 8,000 of the nation’s top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com