Best High School Awards for College Apps to Impress Officers

Prestigious high school awards. Everybody wants them, yet doesn’t know how to find or get them. Many high school students are in this same situation.

Furthermore, these prestigious high school awards not only showcase your talents and hard work but also catch the eye of admissions officers looking for driven and accomplished students. 

In this article, I’ll highlight some of the best and most respected awards that can boost your application.

These are just a few of the most prestigious high school awards that surprise college admissions officers.

Read to the end for a FULL LIST of 80+ awards!

USNCO, USABO, USAPHO, etc.

Eligibility: 9th-12th graders

This category includes some of the most prestigious high school awards in the STEM field: USNCO, USACO, USAMO, USAPHO, and more.

All of these olympiads require heavy amounts of studying, upwards of around 3-4 hours a day. Not only that, you need to to know a wide range of topics in your chosen subject.

Each olympiad also has various levels. First, you need to advance past a regional or open exam. Next, there is the national exam. The top scorers on the national exam qualify for the study camp.

Then, the top performers from the study camp are selected for the USA national team.

As you can see, this isn’t a one-step process. It requires months, and sometimes years, of dedication. Many students don’t even qualify for the national exam in their first year.

It takes consistent practice to be able to reach the international level. That said, qualifying for the national exam is already an achievement in and of itself.

So, don’t be discouraged if you can’t get past the open or regional exam. 

Out of the 15 million people who take these exams every year, will you be the 1% that qualifies?

Regeneron STS

Eligibility: Must be a senior or in the last year of secondary school

Considered the “Super Bowl” of science, this award aims to honor the top research projects done by high school seniors nationwide. 

Students submit any original research project they’ve done in high school, hoping to be recognized by one of the most prestigious high school awards in the science community. 

Then, 300 students are selected as “Regeneron Scholars”. This already is a huge accomplishment, as you’ve already surpassed the 2500+ projects submitted annually.

If you make it past this level, you are deemed a “Regeneron Finalist,” in which 40 projects are selected from the 300 Regeneron Scholars.

In addition to the recognition, winners are also eligible for scholarships. 

Scholar: $2000

Finalist: $25000

Finalist (Top 10): $40000 to $250000

ISEF Grand Award/Best of Category

Eligibility: 9th-12th graders

An ISEF Grand Award is one of the most prestigious high school awards globally for science and engineering.

ISEF, the International Science and Engineering Fair, brings together some of the brightest scientists from 70+ countries.

With over 2000 students competing, it’s no surprise that winning is considered one of the most prestigious high school awards.

ISEF has 22 categories ranging from the animal sciences, engineering, and their newest category: Technology Enhances the Arts.

The journey starts in a competitor’s regional fair, where the top projects advance to the state fair. The best projects at the state fair earn the right to compete at ISEF.

Awards are given per category, for 1st-4th place finishers. There are multiple winners, relative to the amount of students in each category.

Some are more competitive than others, so make sure you choose your category wisely when submitting your project.

Nevertheless, even competing at the international level is already a huge achievement.

Davidson Fellows

Eligibility: Any high school student who has completed a significant piece of work

Among the most prestigious high school awards, the Davidson Fellowship is known for honoring only the most exceptional and original student work.

While mainly targeted towards the STEM field, specifically research, they also offer submissions in the arts. The only categories in this field are music, literature, and philosophy.

The Davidson Fellows scholarship will NOT accept any community service, photography, sculpture, film, visual, etc.. related project, so make sure you plan accordingly.

This is a very selective scholarship with only 20 students annually receiving awards. The scholarship ranges from $25000 to $100000 depending on the significance of your work.

The Fellows Scholarships continue to attract over 600 applicants every year, so make sure you are submitting a unique and original piece of work to increase your chances of winning.

Presidential Scholars

The US Department of Education recognizes up to 161 students yearly for this program. 

Students are selected based on merit alone.

There are 3 types of Presidential Scholars: General, Arts, and CTE.

General Component

Eligibility: High School Senior 

In this component, students don’t apply to the program, rather they are selected based on their SAT and ACT scores.

Each graduating high school senior who has taken the SAT or ACT is automatically considered.

The composite scores of each students’ SAT and ACT are compiled into a prize pool. 20 male and 20 female students with the highest composite SAT or ACT score are recognized in each state.

In addition, the CSSO (Chief State School Officer) will select 10 male and 10 female candidates based on their outstanding scholarship.

If selected during this stage, you will be prompted to submit supplementary materials. This includes essays, self-assessments, transcripts, etc.

From those students, approximately 500 semifinalists are chosen across the nation. The number of semifinalists per state varies based on the number of students who took the SAT or ACT.

Finally, 121 semifinalists are selected to become U.S Presidential Scholars.

Arts Component

Eligibility: Must participate in the Young Arts program

To enter in this category, a student must’ve participated in the YoungArts program. 

This is a national program designed to identify, recognize, and encourage talented young artists who demonstrate excellence across 10 artistic disciplines: Classical Music, Dance, Design, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice, and Writing.

Applicants to the YoungArts™ program must submit digital portfolios—such as audio, video, images, or manuscripts—depending on their artistic discipline. 

Panels of experts in each discipline evaluate submissions in a two-step process to select around 170 winners who are invited to participate in the prestigious YoungArts program in Miami, Florida. Judging is based on artistic excellence within each discipline.

From there, up to 60 eligible students are nominated by YoungArts to apply for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program in the Arts. 

These candidates must then submit academic records, essays, self-assessments, and school reports. 

They are evaluated on academic performance, leadership, character, and service. All arts nominees enter the selection process at the semifinalist stage

In the end, 20 students are chosen as Presidential Scholars in the Arts each year.

CTE Component

Eligibility: Based on accomplishments in any CTE field

Students are first selected for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program in Career and Technical Education (CTE) based on their achievements in CTE fields. 

Each state’s Chief State School Officer (CSSO) can nominate up to five students who meet the eligibility requirements. 

These nominees receive candidacy materials and are invited to apply by submitting additional documentation.

Candidates must provide essays, self-assessments, school reports, and transcripts, and are evaluated on academics, leadership, character, and service. 

60 semifinalists are chosen by a national panel of educators. From these, up to 20 students are named Presidential Scholars in CTE by the Commission in April.

National History Day National Winner

Eligibility: 6th-12th graders in the USA

National History Day (NHD) is a year-long academic program that challenges students to explore historical topics through in-depth research and creative projects. 

Participants use primary and secondary sources to investigate a theme—such as 2025’s “Rights and Responsibilities in History”—and present their findings through exhibits, documentaries, papers, performances, or websites. 

The program emphasizes historical thinking, research, and analysis.

Students compete at the local, regional, and state levels, with top entries advancing to the National Contest at the University of Maryland, College Park. 

Nearly 3,000 students from across the U.S. and international schools gather at this prestigious event to showcase their work, making it one of the most respected history competitions for middle and high school students.

Scholastic Art and Writing National Awards

Eligibility: 7th-12th graders in the USA

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is a prestigious national competition that recognizes outstanding creative work by students in grades 7–12 across the U.S. 

With a history dating back to 1923, it has honored notable alumni such as Andy Warhol and Sylvia Plath. The competition covers a wide range of categories in both art and writing, including photography, painting, poetry, short stories, and more.

Students submit their work to regional affiliates, where it’s judged for originality, technical skill, and personal voice. 

Top regional winners receive Gold Keys and are considered for national awards, including Silver and Gold Medals, Portfolio Awards, and American Visions & Voices Awards. 

National Medalists are celebrated in New York City, and winning can significantly boost a student’s college application due to the award’s strong reputation.

Conclusion

In today’s competitive college admissions landscape, prestigious high school awards can give you the edge that sets your application apart.

Whether you’re passionate about STEM, the arts, or history, these awards not only reflect your hard work and passion—they tell colleges you’re ready to excel at the next level.

If you’re serious about maximizing your college potential, aim for awards that showcase your unique skills and academic dedication.

And remember—you don’t have to win every award to stand out, but going after high-level competitions shows initiative, resilience, and drive.

✅ Take the first step: Explore the full list of 80+ prestigious high school awards I’ve compiled to find the ones that best align with your interests and goals.

Get the full list here: https://linktr.ee/ASStudio