The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has earned another commitment from a 5-star academic recruit who will enroll as a Husker in the fall.

Shrey Agarwal, a senior at Lincoln East High School, celebrated earning a University of Nebraska President’s Scholarship with a May 17 signing alongside his parents Lalit and Sarika, younger brother Arnav, Principal Casey Fries, University of Nebraska Interim President Chris Kabourek and Lincoln Regent Tim Clare, a Spartan alum.

Shrey scored a 35 on the ACT and a 1,570 on the SAT, qualifying him for the Presidential Scholars Program, a new scholarship announced earlier this year by Gov. Jim Pillen and university leaders. The scholarship covers the total cost of undergraduate attendance within the NU system plus an annual stipend.

As he weighed offers from other schools including Carnegie Mellon and Georgia Tech, Shrey said the President’s Scholarship was “a huge part of my decision,” as it will allow him to fully focus on his classwork. Shrey will study mechanical engineering and math as part of UNL’s Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management. He joins an inaugural cohort of Presidential Scholars that is expected to number more than a dozen.

Courtesy

Shrey Agarwal (seated, at right), senior at Lincoln East High School, signed May 17 as the University of Nebraska’s Presidential Scholarship recipient. Others celebrating with Shrey were (from left) Tim Clare, regent; Casey Fries, principal of Lincoln East; Chris Kabourek, NU interim president; Lalit and Sarika Agarwal, Shrey’s parents; and Arnav Agarwal, Shrey’s younger brother.

Lalit, Shrey’s father, Husker alumnus and former UNL employee, said the scholarship is working.

“Students like Shrey are the perfect example of why the Presidential Scholars Program is so important for our state,” Kabourek said. “Shrey is an impressive young man from a great family who is going to do big things in his future — exactly the kind of homegrown talent we can’t afford to let get away. I am thrilled that we are able to keep Shrey in Nebraska and it was an honor to personally celebrate with him and his family. I can’t wait to welcome him to campus this fall.”

In high school, Shrey has been president of the Future Business Leaders of America, been involved in the Computer Science Honors Society, played tennis and played cello in the orchestra. He was recently named to the Omaha World-Herald’s 2024 All-Eastern Academic Team.

“I am pleased that yet another Presidential Scholar, Shrey Agarwal, is planning to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,” said Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett. “The state of Nebraska wins when scholars from within the state choose to stay home.

“As part of the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, Shrey will have the opportunity to study alongside some of the brightest students in the region and develop into an innovator of tomorrow. I look forward to welcoming all our new Presidential Scholars to campus this fall.”

The Presidential Scholars Program provides a full cost of attendance scholarship — tuition, fees, books, housing and all other costs — plus a $5,000 annual stipend to Nebraska students who score a perfect 36 on the ACT or an equivalent SAT score of 1,570 or above. The scholarship may be used for undergraduate study at any University of Nebraska campus.

The goal of the program is to advance a shared vision by Gov. Jim Pillen and the university to make Nebraska more competitive for its best and brightest young people. The university’s goal is to raise the private funds necessary to expand the program to cover Nebraska students who score a 33 or above on the ACT.