BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) today named the three 2026 Louisiana Students of the Year and honored all 24 regional finalists during a ceremony at The Cook Hotel and Conference Center in Baton Rouge. The overall honorees — one student each from elementary, middle, and high school — were selected based on academic achievement, leadership, service, and character.
“The Louisiana Students of the Year program is about recognizing young people who set ambitious goals and put in the work necessary to achieve them,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “Sanil, Kaejha, Melissa, and each of our finalists are examples of what’s possible when students pursue excellence, serve others, and lead with purpose.”
Each year, the LDOE and the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) recognize students who exemplify academic excellence, leadership, and service. Finalists include one fifth, eighth, and 12th grader from each of the state’s eight BESE regions.
The 2026 overall honorees are:
Elementary School Student of the Year
Sanil Savita Thorat is the elementary school Louisiana Student of the Year. He attends Fairfield Magnet School in Caddo Parish Public Schools.
Thorat is an accomplished speller who earned a place at the Scripps National Spelling Bee and received top honors at the regional level. He also completed the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge, performs piano in recitals at venues including nursing homes and churches, has earned recognition in music competitions, and competes as a runner. Thorat aspires to become a doctor and volunteers with organizations focused on community wellness.
Middle School Student of the Year
Kaejha Mary-Anne Christine Stewart is the middle school Louisiana Student of the Year. She attends A.E. Phillips Laboratory School in Lincoln Parish Schools.
Stewart serves as student council president for the 2025-26 school year and represented her school as an eighth-grade student ambassador during its back to school night. She is a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and participates on the Science Olympiad and MathCounts teams. Stewart is also active in choir, music, and theater, performing as a national anthem soloist, Patriots Day Program soloist and speaker, and pianist for her eighth-grade graduation.
High School Student of the Year
Melissa An Le is the high school Louisiana Student of the Year. She attends Ruston High School in Lincoln Parish School System and was previously named Louisiana’s Middle School Student of the Year.
Le is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a National Merit Commended Scholar. She serves as student body president, was elected state secretary of Future Business Leaders of America, and has earned all-state recognition in speech and debate. Le also advocates for expanded access to science, technology, engineering, and math education through speaking engagements and national initiatives. She has reached thousands through her “STEM to Bloom” video series and serves on the National Girls Collaborative Project board.
Earlier this year, the LDOE named the 2026 finalists and regional honorees for Louisiana Students of the Year. Students are selected based on criteria that measure academic achievement, leadership, character, and service to their schools and communities. Selection committees also evaluate electronic portfolios, student writing samples, and interviews to assess communication and critical thinking skills.
All Louisiana schools are eligible to submit one candidate. Students first compete at the school system level, with top performers advancing to zone, regional, and state competitions. Before selecting the three state honorees, a state committee conducts interviews and reviews writing samples and portfolios from each finalist.