Nicholas White ’25 – Presidential Scholar

One day in September, Newman alumnus Nick White ’25 awoke to a notification on his phone. “I got an email that said, ‘You're a Presidential Scholar. Good job,’” Nick said, continuing, “It took me a good 15 minutes to realize, Oh, wow, I actually got it!”

 

The U.S. Presidential Scholar is one of the nation's highest honors for graduating high school seniors. Out of 6,000 applicants nationwide, only 161 students are selected for this prestigious recognition each year. Nick, now a freshman at Rice University, is one of two Presidential Scholars from Louisiana.

 

Nick’s path to this honor was arduous. Students are first flagged by their standardized test scores. His ACT score was high enough for the State of Louisiana to elect him as a candidate. “After that, you have to send in a few essays—five of them. And then you also have to send in personal information, like your favorite teacher (I chose [Upper School chemistry teacher] Dr. Herman), as well as just a few other little bits and details about you, like your GPA and what your extracurriculars are. It’s a bit like you're applying to college,” Nick said.

 

Nick was named a semifinalist, among a group of 600 students nationwide. “I remember being a semifinalist. That was an incredibly cool moment,” said Nick. “I never thought I'd be a finalist, not to mention that they didn't get back to us for quite some time.” When he did receive that fateful call, he was both surprised and overjoyed. “I was super happy. I called everybody I knew. It’s just a great feeling to know that you got recognized for the work you did.”

 

It’s not surprising when you consider Nick’s history as a Newman student. His interests at school were broad and deep, and his enthusiasm was bottomless. He was a four-year member of the football team and a two-year member of the track and field team. He spent five years in the Choir program and acted in three years of school plays and musicals. As a sophomore, he received the Faculty Award for Scholarship for his academic commitment. Nick also earned a gold medal and the highest award - Summa Cum Laude – on the 2024 National Latin Exam, was a National Merit Commended student, and an AP Scholar. In his senior year, he was inducted into Newman’s Cum Laude Society in recognition of his position in the top 20% of his class.

 

Newman school administrators agree. Robyn McCormick, Associate Head of Upper School, said, “Nick’s recognition as a U.S. Presidential Scholar is a testament to his remarkable intellect, tireless work ethic, and exceptional character—he excelled in every arena of school life (in the classroom, on the field, or in the arts) while remaining humble, thoughtful, and wise beyond his years.”

 

We cannot deny that Nick’s accomplishment is completely his own, yet he was quick to also recognize the Newman community and environment for helping him in his growth. “Newman helped a ton,” he said. “The best part about Newman is that you can try anything that you want, and the people here encourage you to try as many things as you can. One of the prerequisites for being a Presidential Scholar is having a multi-faceted personality… When I was here, I did football as well as musical theater, and I know that set me apart for this consideration. And the amazing reason I did that was because a bunch of people at Newman pushed me to do so. I remember Mr. Sears and Mr. Cooper both encouraged me to do theater my freshman year, and that was one of the best experiences I ever had. So I would say it’s Newman that really helped me push to get this award.”

 

Nick will be honored in a virtual ceremony this November where he will receive a medal commemorating his outstanding achievement. However, the award itself will be a bright spot on his CV, broadcasting to future academic institutions and employers that he is a person who embodies leadership, scholarship, and community contribution.

 

Nick hasn’t chosen a major yet, but he is currently in biosciences with a focus on ecology. However, he thinks he may switch to a double major in psychology and neuroscience with a pre-med focus. After college, he wants to pursue medical research. Whatever he chooses, we are confident he will be a success.

 

Please join us in congratulating Nicholas White on this remarkable achievement. His dedication and excellence serve as an inspiration to all students – not to mention the faculty! When asked if he could offer current students some guidance, he immediately replied, “Do everything. That's my only suggestion for anybody who reads this: try everything at least once.”