Maple Grove Senior High School senior Stavya Arora has found great success in her last year of high school, thanks to years of hard work, perseverance and dedication in her educational journey.
Arora was recently named a 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of 161 scholars in the nation and only two in the state. The United States Presidential Scholars Program, one of the Nation's highest honors for high school students, was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize and honor some of the Nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Arora was nominated after last year’s science fair, and underwent a rigorous application process which included essays and recommendations.
“It is just amazing to be recognized for that. A lot of people helped me get there, so to be recognized as the highest honor that they have meant a lot. It makes me feel good about all of the work that I have done,” Arora said.
Arora was also named a National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winner, one of 2,500 in the nation and only 44 winners in the state. She was selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the Finalists and their high schools, including their academic record, scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), contributions and leadership in school and community activities, an essay written by the Finalist and a recommendation written by a high school official.
Arora was additionally recently featured as a CCX Standout Student after she was recognized by the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the oldest science and math competition for high school students in the U.S., for her work on how the online forum ‘Reddit’ can be used to help people recovering from opioid addiction.
Looking back over her four years at MGSH, Arora would advise incoming high school scholars to embrace every moment they have, understand the value of what they are learning, stay motivated and surround themselves with people who will support them.
“With all of the successes I have had, there have been so many things that I haven’t gotten that I have tried just as hard for,” Arora said. “For every one thing that everyone sees posted or recognized, there are ten rejections. You will get the rejections, you just have to keep trying and have a positive mindset.”
Arora has been involved in many clubs and activities during her time at MGSH, including robotics, math team, HOSA, National Honor Society and serving as president of the Girl Up club.
Arora will be attending Caltech next year to study computer science. She plans on spending this summer working and spending as much time with friends and family as she can before making the move to California.
“It’s a great school and it is going to set me up for my future,” Arora said.