Students of the Year - Application Process Open
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that exceptional students are enrolled in public, nonpublic, and charter schools throughout the state. To celebrate their accomplishments, the Department and the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education annually honor one fifth-grade, one eighth-grade, and one twelfth-grade student whose leadership, academic performance, achievements, citizenship, and service exemplify excellence.
Students are first selected at the school level and then advance to the school system level. School systems submit their honorees for state consideration based on the BESE region in which the school is located.
- Charter and nonpublic schools: Two semifinalists per grade level in each BESE region
- Public schools: Four semifinalists per grade level in each BESE region
The Semifinalist Review Committee then selects one finalist for each grade level within each BESE region from the pool of semifinalists.
The application process for the 2026-2027 school year is now open. All application materials, resources, and the timeline are available in the Students of the Year Resources section.
All public, charter, and nonpublic school systems are encouraged to participate. School systems must submit their fifth-, eighth-, and twelfth-grade honorees through the online application portal by November 13, 2026. The application portal will open later this year, and the portal link will be shared directly with the Students of the Year Coordinators for each school system once it becomes available.
For questions about the Students of the Year program, please contact [email protected].
Students of the Year Resources
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school students selected on the basis of outstanding scholarship. All high school seniors graduating between January and August 2026, who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public, parochial, or independent schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible. School systems can submit, for LDOE consideration, up to two students in the General Component and up to two students in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Component. The Department can nominate up to 10 males and 10 females for the General Component AND up to five additional students for the CTE recognition component.
This is a recognition program, not a scholarship program. The 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion.
In order to recommend students for nomination to the program, school systems are required to submit to the LDOE a parental release form for each nominated student and complete a 2026 U. S. Presidential Scholars application for each student by 5 p.m. January 30, 2026. It is recommended that school systems review the LDOE evaluation rubric prior to nominating students.
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Resources
United States Senate Youth Program
Applications for the 2026 United States Senate Youth Program are now open. The 65th Annual Washington Week will take place from March 6 to 13, 2027. For more information about the program, please visit the USSYP website.
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) will select two student delegates to represent Louisiana in the 65th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Each delegate will receive a $12,500 scholarship. Juniors and seniors may qualify to apply for the USSYP Scholarship based on leadership positions they hold during the 2026-2027 school year, per the USSYP official criteria. All student leadership qualifying positions are subject to the judgment of the state selection administrator and will be verified and confirmed. Students nominated by their principals must submit an application and a portfolio of the required USSYP official criteria to the LDOE. All applications must be submitted and timestamped through the application portal by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 9.
Please read the National Brochure and the 2026-2027 Louisiana USSY Logistics Memo for more information, including eligibility requirements and the application process. State finalists will be notified by Friday, October 23, and delegates and alternates will be informed in December of final selection.
