Littleton Public Schools seniors William Greenway, Heritage High School, and Atlee Witt, Arapahoe High School, were recently named 2016 Presidential Scholar Candidates. An immense achievement, their candidacy recognizes their distinguished high school careers.

Earlier this school year, Greenway earned a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT test—a score that on average, less than one-tenth of a percent of students achieve. Witt, who achieved a perfect ACT score her junior year, was also recently named a 2016 National Merit Scholarship Finalist.

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholar Program is run through the U.S. Department of Education and is one the nation’s highest honors for high school students. “The Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people,” states the program’s fact sheet.

Only 94 high school seniors in Colorado were named Presidential Scholar Candidates for the 2015-2016 school year. To be included as a candidate is a clear indication of the academic excellence, at a national level, that Greenway and Witt have achieved. Selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars, up to 161 Presidential Scholars will be announced this spring.