Greater Lowell Technical High School Senior Nichollas Morais Named U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalist

TYNGSBOROUGH — Greater Lowell Technical High School is proud to recognize senior Nichollas Morais for being one of only 13 students in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalist. 

Nichollas, who lives in Lowell, is about to graduate from the GLTHS Computer Aided Drafting & Design (CADD) Program with a GPA of 4.5, which places him second out of 567 students in the senior class. 

In addition to serving as the Class of 2025 Salutatorian, Nichollas is a national gold medal winning member of SkillsUSA, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Youth Council, a participant in the NASA TechRise Challenge, an active member of both National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society, and a varsity Swim and Dive athlete. 

Nichollas has earned the State Leader Award in SkillsUSA, as well as the 2024 National Gold Medal in Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue. He is also a SkillsUSA Chapter Ambassador, and an alumni of MIT’s Introduction to Technology, Engineering and Science program. 

In addition to his academic and extracurricular achievements, Nichollas is currently employed through GLTHS’s Co-operative Education Program at Dynocardia in Newton. There, he contributes to the development of innovative, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring devices used in clinical trials nationwide.

Each year, up to 161 students nationwide are honored as U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest recognitions for high school students. This year, there are only 13 semi-finalists in the entire Commonwealth.

In June, The Commission on Presidential Scholars will review the applications of all semifinalists, and select up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars from across the country. 

So far in it’s 60-year history, the program has honored over 8,000 U.S. Presidential Scholars for demonstrating leadership, scholarship, and contribution to school and community. 

Following graduation, Nichollas plans to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

“Nichollas is a student who exemplifies the GLTHS core values of Respect, Effort, Accountability, Commitment, and Honesty (REACH),” said Superintendent Jill Davis. “His selection as a U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalist — one of the nation’s highest recognitions for high school students — reflects Nichollas’ exceptional academic performance, technical expertise, leadership, and dedication.”