Two Stanislaus students selected to be U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalists
.jpg "Graduated seniors Sabrina Toor (left) and Kate Cooper (right) were named U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalists.")
Two new Stanislaus County graduates, Sabrina Toor of Modesto High and Kate Cooper of Hughson High, were named semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program.
Established in 1964, the program honors some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. This year, 627 students were named semifinalists for the scholars program.
The recognition comes with a congratulatory package from the Commission on Presidential Scholars, including a certificate and an invitation to have their applications reviewed for the final U.S. Presidential Scholar award. The Commission on Presidential Scholars will next review the applications of all 627 semifinalists and select up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars. The final scholars will be announced later this summer.
Toor’s accomplishments
Toor is the founder of the nonprofit Creation4Cessation, a U.S. Senate Youth finalist and a 2025-26 Modesto City Schools student representative on the Board of Education. Creation4Cessation is a nonprofit organization that promotes smoking cessation through art among middle and high school students.
When she learned she was a semifinalist, she was shocked and grateful, Toor said in a statement to The Modesto Bee. “Humbled that someone from the Central Valley would be considered a worthy candidate for this recognition,” she said.
Her journey in health-focused advocacy and entrepreneurship sprang from her experience with tobacco addiction in her personal relationships.
“I started C4C motivated by my immediate family members who struggled with addiction, leading to cancer and other lifelong health implications. What started as a countywide art exhibition blossomed into international C4C chapters,” Toor said. Creation4Cessation has chapters in Mountain House, Mexico, India, Los Angeles, Canada and Modesto.
Since June 2023, Creation4Cessation has hosted two countywide art exhibitions, a digital art exhibition, numerous art workshops and events partnered with organizations like Kendra Scott, Valley Children’s hospital, and the Protecting Health and Slamming Tobacco youth coalition. The nonprofit also received city and state level accolades for its work.
As a part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Toor met with legislators, got thousands of signatures on petitions and testified before California legislators for various cancer prevention and anti-tobacco bills. Her work has included efforts to increase federal breast cancer research funding, give Medicare patients access to multiple early detection cancer screenings and support law enforcement against illegal tobacco sales.
Reflecting on her high school career, Toor thanked two mentors: her English teacher and journalism adviser, Kerrie Glenn, and Modesto High Principal Phuc Pham-Goulart.
“[Glenn’s] support in giving me a number of opportunities in and out of the classroom to become a better student and leader, as well as emboldening me to use my voice through journalism, is invaluable to me,” she said.
“[Pham-Goulart] consistently supported me at school events and events organized through my nonprofit,” Toor continued. “With her support, I’ve attained the BoE student representative position and was selected as the MHS CA Boys & Girls State representative. She makes a concerted effort to connect with students on campus, and I truly feel she respects my perspective in school activity or governance matters.”
Toor is well known for her professionalism, sincerity and the kindness that she carries in her interactions, especially as student representative to the Board of Education, MCS Superintendent Vanessa Buitrago said in a statement to The Bee.
In addition, Buitrago praised Toor for being exceptional in demonstrating a rare balance between academic excellence and community service.
“Being named a semifinalist for the U.S. Presidential Scholar award is one of the most prestigious honors that any student can receive, and it is no surprise that Sabrina’s name is on this very exclusive, nationwide list of scholars,” Buitrago said. “She is an exemplary young woman who exhibits maturity and good judgement far beyond her years. When you spend time with Sabrina, you know you are in the presence of someone who will one day make major contributions to our society.”
Toor will attend UC Berkeley to study public health and molecular and cellular biology. She hopes to become a physician while simultaneously conducting health policy work.
Cooper’s accomplishments
During her time at Hughson High, Cooper distinguished herself through leadership in agricultural education and Future Farmers of America.
Her participation in FFA is expansive, spanning from public speaking competitions to showing market hogs at the Stanislaus County Fair to being on the 2025 California FFA State Champion Livestock Judging Team.
Cooper also served as Hughson FFA chapter president for the past two years and was the Central Region South Area vice president during her senior year.
Most recently, Cooper was elected as the 2026-27 California FFA State vice president. In this role, she will interact with not only thousands of high school students and their FFA officers but business leaders, government officials, agricultural educators and corporate sponsors to promote the program and help it flourish for future years.
“This opportunity is transformative,” Cooper said in an interview with the Turlock Journal. “I am so grateful that California FFA entrusted me to serve in this position, and I will spend every moment of the next year intentionally serving and giving back to the organization that provided me a passion and a purpose.”
The FFA adviser at Hughson High, Kristen Maciel, said she was honored to have taught Cooper.
“Kate has put countless hours and efforts into leading the FFA organization at the chapter, sectional, regional and currently at the state level,” Maciel said. “... I am very proud of who she is today, and look forward to seeing her make change in our future.”
Beyond FFA, Cooper has been active in Hughson High School’s performing arts program, serving as drama class vice president and performing roles such as Ursula in “The Little Mermaid” and Olaf in “Frozen.”
She has been a member of the California Scholarship Federation since freshman year. CSF is a nonprofit honor society that recognizes and fosters high standards of academic achievement, community service and citizenship among middle and high school students. For the past two years, Cooper also served as a CSF co-president, overseeing the program at her school.
Reflecting on the honor, Cooper said it is especially meaningful because it highlights the value of career technical education.
“This honor means a lot!” she said in a statement to The Modesto Bee. “I have been heavily involved in agriculture education during my time in high school, so it is truly an honor to represent career technical education within this program. I hope that I can continue to represent ag education and the FFA organization!”
Cooper will attend Oklahoma State University, where she plans to double major in agricultural communications and agricultural business. She wants to attend law school to become an agricultural lawyer.
“My goal is to evoke change in policy to better our agricultural industry,” Cooper said.
