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Grant Gillum, a rising senior at Dripping Springs High School, has been named a 2025 Coolidge Senator by the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.
“It’s a tremendous honor that’s given to only 100 students nationwide out of nearly 5,000 applicants. It was based on academic achievement, community service, and a series of analytical essays,” Gillum said. “Being a Senator has really been a capstone achievement for my high school career to this point.”
Selection as a Senator is one of the most prestigious awards available to high school juniors, and Gillum was one of only seven students chosen from Texas schools. Gillum attended a summit in late July with the other Coolidge Senators and received a one-time scholarship.
“The summit brought together Coolidge Senators from all over the country for an expensespaid trip to Boston and Plymouth Notch, Vermont - President Coolidge’s hometown,” Gillum said. “We had lectures from business leaders and policymakers on pressing national issues.”
Gillum said the best part of the trip was the people he met, who were all exceptionally accomplished and from very different backgrounds.
“One night at dinner, I sat next to someone who had published three books, one person who plays MLS Next soccer and conducts microbiology research at a medical school, and another guy who had just returned from an afternoon interview for an internship with the United Nations,” Gillum said. “I enjoyed hearing how we all balanced our activities and achievements in so many different ways. I made some great friends and I’m excited to be a part of a lifelong community of Senators.”
He said the trip included several very memorable activities.
“We got to visit the Massachusetts legislature and took over the House chamber for a day,” Gillum said. “We also visited the home where President Coolidge was sworn in as President in the middle of the night.”
Gillum is a 5-time state champion and 3time national awardee in the National History Day program, the President of the National Honor Society at DSHS, and a member of the Tiger Varsity basketball team. After receiving a Dripping Springs Education Foundation grant, he founded the Historical Scholars Club and created a virtual tour of the Mercer Street historical district found on the City of Dripping Springs website.
Gillum’s research has previously been recognized by the Texas State Board of Education, the PEC Board of Directors, and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Gillum was recommended for this program by his long-time History Day sponsor, Kibbie Jensen, and DSHS head basketball coach, Thomas Acker.
