Ella Newhouse: U.S. Presidential Scholar

Since 1964 the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has been honoring distinguished high school seniors, including those who exhibit exceptional talent in visual, creative and performing arts as well as students in career and technical education fields. Students must be invited to apply based on their SAT or ACT scores or by nomination from the Chief State School Officer or a partner recognition organization. One of the nation’s highest honors, 161 students from across the U.S. are chosen each year. This year, the two students from Oklahoma named Presidential Scholars were both from Tulsa — Jack Carson, Booker T. Washington High School, and Ella Newhouse, Cascia Hall. We talked to Ella about the honor, which was announced the week of May 12, 2024.

TK: Besides a high test score, what did you have to submit to win this honor?

Ella: I had to submit a picture and write why it meant something to me. I’ve been a swimmer for 10 years, so I submitted a high school gold medal from swimming. I wrote about what it took to get there. Community involvement was also part of the application. I’m president of two clubs, Key Club and Medical Exploration. I’ve also done an internship and been on the Youth Advisory Board for the Little Light House. The internship allowed me to be in the classroom to help the teachers. Being in the classroom made me love Little Lighthouse. At Cascia, I’ve loaded up on AP classes. They’re very accommodating and supportive at Cascia. They give you opportunities to thrive.

TK: How do you feel about being chosen as one of two Presidential Scholars in Oklahoma?

Ella: I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was honored to be chosen as a semi-finalist. I was about to take an AP test after lunch when I got the email. I was over the moon.

TK: What are your plans after high school?

Ella: I’m going to OU in their Medical Humanities program in the Honors College. I want to go to med school, and this gives you provisional acceptance into med school. It’s designed to help bring the humanities back into the medical field. Every student chooses a minor, and I chose biomedical ethics. I’m excited to pursue an interdisciplinary focus. Medicine is so much more than just the science behind it. I did a minimester (Cascia’s winter break program for career shadowing) in family medicine. That really helped me solidify my career choice.

TK: Looking back at your high school years, what was the most difficult?

Ella: COVID was hard. My freshman year was a hybrid schedule. The friend groups were a little hard at first.

TK: What was the best thing?

Ella: The community. There are only 80 kids in my grade, and I know every one of them by name. We really have a community here. You can be friendly with everybody, and we have awesome faculty and teachers.

TK: Who inspires you?

Ella: My mom has been a huge inspiration. She’s a pediatrician and a first-generation doctor. She forged her own path. I thought, if she can do it, I can do it. She and my dad are so encouraging. They lift me up. They’re the best.

TK: What advice would you give to students who will be starting high school in the fall?

Ella: Get out of your comfort zone. Even if you think people are going to think you’re weird, just get out there. Everything you do, do it to the best of your abilities. Put the effort into the small things and the big things will come.

TK: What are your favorite things to do or places to go in Tulsa?

Ella: I love Utica Square to shop or eat out. I like to go to Queenies with my grandma.

TK: Tell us a fun fact about you.

Ella: I’ve been to nine different countries, seven in the last year. I’m going to Italy with my family this summer. I love to travel.

 Betty Casey is the associate publisher and editor in chief of TulsaKids Magazine. She has been with TulsaKids over 20 years.