Uxue Sansinen/Courtesy photo
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos Public Schools is pleased to share the announcement from the U.S. Department of Education that Uxue Sansinena, a member of the Los Alamos High School Class of 2025, has been selected as a 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholar.
She is one of 161 outstanding American high school graduates who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, technical expertise, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to school and community.
Uxue is the daughter of Jose-Maria Sansinena and Virginia Olazabal. During her time at LAHS, she was president of the LAHS National Honor Society, drum major for the high school marching band, president of the French club, executive director of the Hilltalkers, Key Club president, and a student director for the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation. She was also involved with Rotary Interact and Mu Alpha Theta. In addition, she was one of only two outstanding young leaders to represent New Mexico as a delegate to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) last spring.
She is currently attending Columbia University, where she is planning a joint major in economics-political science on a pre-law track. Her goal is to use her background in statutory law to pursue a career in public policy and legislative work.
Scholars are selected annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations, and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. Of the 3.9 million students who graduated from high school this year, more than 6,400 candidates qualified for the 2025 awards determined by outstanding performance on the SAT or ACT exam or through nominations made by chief state school officers and partner recognition organizations.
As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 Scholars in the arts, and 20 Scholars in career and technical education. Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored approximately 8,600 of the nation’s top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize
students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
Since 1983, each U.S. Presidential Scholar has been offered the opportunity to name his or her most influential teacher. Each distinguished teacher is honored with a personal letter from the Secretary of Education. The teacher chosen for recognition by Sansinena was Ms. Louise Foliot of Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Ms. Foliot has been published in the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program’s Distinguished Teachers publication.
“Uxue, congratulations on being selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar,” Ms. Foliot said. “What an outstanding achievement! Your dedication to performance, leadership, and service has earned you one of our nation’s highest honors for high school students. It is truly inspiring to see the path you’ve forged and the impact you’ve already begun to make.”
“I am honored to have been one of your teachers, and I hope that you continue to love learning languages,” she added.
Ms. Foliot was recognized by the LAPS School Board during their work session held last week at Los Alamos Middle School.