BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) -- The Louisiana Department of Education today named its 24 finalists for the 2024 Louisiana Students of the Year competition, and Acadiana is well represented on the short list.

Tyren Austin, of B. Edward Boudreaux Middle School in St. Mary Parish, Hyacinth Williamson, of Welsh-Roanoke Jr. High in Jefferson Davis Parish, Ali Habib, of Lafayette High School in Lafayette Parish and Josi Lemelle, of Eunice High School in St. Landry Parish, were all named finalists for the prestigious awards.

The honorees include one 5th, 8th and 12th grader from each of the state’s eight BESE regions. Finalists will convene April 10 at the River Center Branch Library in Baton Rouge for an awards ceremony and the announcement of the Louisiana Students of the Year winners from each grade.

“Congratulations to each of these young leaders. This honor is a testament to their commitment to academic excellence,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. "As we celebrate the achievement of these remarkable students, we also recognize the unwavering support of their parents and educators.” 

Students are selected based on criteria that measure academic achievement, leadership skills, character and service to their schools and communities. Regional selection committees also use electronic portfolios of accomplishments, along with student writing samples and interviews to assess the communications and critical thinking skills of each candidate.

Finalists were selected among student of the year winners from schools across the state. All Louisiana schools were eligible to submit one candidate. Students compete with their peers at the school system level and may advance to the zone and regional competitions. Prior to selecting the three state winners, the state selection committee will conduct interviews and review a writing sample from each of the finalists as well as their portfolios.

Here is the complete list of nominees:

Grade 5:

• Region 1: Elise Federico | Tchefuncte Middle | St. Tammany Parish
• Region 2: Dylan Graffeo | John L. Ory Communication Art Magnet | St. John Parish
• Region 3: Qiaoya “Georgie” Wang | Bayou Community Academy | Lafourche Parish
• Region 4: Bhavik Kondala | Eden Gardens Fundamental Elementary Magnet | Caddo Parish
• Region 5: Ansley Elder | Cherokee Elementary | Rapides Parish
• Region 6: Kendall Vaughn | South Fork Elementary | Livingston Parish
• Region 7: Adeline Reddit | South Beauregard Upper Elementary | Beauregard Parish
• Region 8: Dean Cicero | Brusly Upper Elementary | West Baton Rouge Parish

Grade 8:

• Region 1: Alvin Su | Hynes Charter School | Orleans Parish
• Region 2: Sasha Mardon | The Willow School | Orleans Parish
• Region 3: Tyren Austin | B. Edward Boudreaux Middle | St. Mary Parish
• Region 4: Luka Mikaberidze | Caddo Magnet Middle | Caddo Parish
• Region 5: Lillianna Rose | East Ouachita Middle | Ouachita Parish
• Region 6: Madilyn Whitmore | Westdale Middle | East Baton Rouge Parish
• Region 7: Hyacinth Williamson | Welsh-Roanoke Jr. High | Jefferson Davis Parish
• Region 8: Helen Lavassuer | West Feliciana Middle | West Feliciana Parish            

Grade 12:

• Region 1:  Jaelyn Graham | Northshore High | St. Tammany Parish
• Region 2 : Sean Baltazar | Destrehan High | St. Charles Parish
• Region 3: Evan Louviere | South Lafourche High | Lafourche Parish
• Region 4: Zachary Cryer | Benton High | Bossier Parish
• Region 5: Hannah Buckley | Ouachita Parish High | Ouachita Parish 
• Region 6: Lauryn Smith | Varnado High | Washington Parish
• Region 7: Ali Habib | Lafayette High | Lafayette Parish
• Region 8:  Josi Lemelle | Eunice High | St. Landry Parish

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