Presidential Scholars Program

Colby’s Presidential Scholars Program offers several benefits to the top students in each incoming class, including the opportunity to conduct research alongside world-class professors from the moment they arrive on campus, access to a pool of grants to design their own projects, and the chance to take part in other activities that challenge them to achieve at the highest levels.

The Presidential Scholar designation is one of the only academic honors that Colby confers on students before they enroll. Every applicant to Colby is considered for the Presidential Scholars Program.

Presidential Scholars enjoy the following benefits:

• Colby Academic Research Assistant (CARA) and Colby Civic Engagement Scholar (CCES). This program enriches a Presidential Scholar’s first-year experience by linking them with one of Colby’s outstanding faculty members to do research in an area of mutual interest or placing them in the civic engagement project addressing a pressing need in the Waterville area. These fellowships are paid positions reserved for Presidential Scholars.
• Opportunity Grants of up to $3,000. These grants enable successful applicants to design their own academic, research, internship, or service experience during the summer of their sophomore or junior year, or during a January term.
• Presidential Music Scholarships, which cover the cost of music lessons in the first year at Colby for students interested in music as they explore various programs before selecting a major. Music lessons continue to be free beyond the first year to all students who major in Music.
• Unique access to DavisConnects events and programs, including fellowship information sessions, career conversations, employer presentations, and more.

Presidential Scholars must remain in good academic and personal standing as a condition to maintain the designation. Many scholars make a significant impact while at Colby. Several Presidential Scholars were honored before graduation in May 2019, including the Condon Award Winner Lily Herrmann. The honor of valedictorian was shared by Thu Le and Kayla Freeman, both Presidential Scholars. Other scholars from the class of 2019 featured on graduation weekend were Gabby Foster and Josiah Johnson.

View our program spotlights. 

For more information, contact: