Local 8th-Grader Makes ‘Students of the Year’ List

The Louisiana Education Department has announced the names of 18 students selected as regional finalists in the annual Students of the Year competition, and a Shreveport student makes the list.

Porter May is a 8th-grader at First Baptist Church School in Shreveport. He joins five other students from this region who have been named 2016 middle school finalists. There are also six each in the elementary and high school divisions.

The finalists will visit the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge April 13 for an awards ceremony and the announcement of the state Students of the Year winners from each grade level.

"Congratulations to each of these students for their impressive accomplishments, and for being recognized among Louisiana's best," said State Education Superintendent John White. "These students represent the great potential of young people across the state, and we applaud the positive impact they are making in their classrooms, schools, communities and the state."

How are these students chosen? According to an Education Department news release, all public and approved non-public schools were asked to submit one candidate from their student body. District-level winners advance to the regional competitions, then regional selection committees use portfolios of accomplishments created by each student, along with student writing samples and interviews, to assess the communication and critical-thinking skills of each candidate.

Before the three state winners are chosen, the State Student Achievement Selection Committee will conduct interviews and review a writing sample from each of the regional finalists. Here's the complete list:

Grade 5:

Anniston Broadway, Natchitoches Magnet Middle School, Natchitoches Parish
Sage Bell, Sallie Humble Elementary School, Monroe City Schools District
Jordan Batiste, Welsh Elementary School, Jefferson Davis Parish
Keagan Rabalais, South Live Oak Elementary School, Livingston Parish
Samuel Korn, Harold Keller Elementary School, Jefferson Parish
Laura Hamilton, St. Gregory Barbarigo, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Grade 8:

Katherine Nevils, Winnfield Middle School, Winn Parish
Laura Peters, Jena Junior High School, LaSalle Parish
Austin Dellafosse, S.J. Welsh Middle School, Calcasieu Parish
Matthew Larsen, Mandeville Junior High School, St. Tammany Parish
Hiba Hasan, Dutchtown Middle School, Ascension Parish
Porter May, First Baptist Church School, Shreveport

Grade 12:

Collin King, Ruston High School, Lincoln Parish
Caleb Armstrong, Ouachita Parish High School, Ouachita Parish
Cade Herman, Sulphur High School, Calcasieu Parish
Zoe Williamson, West Feliciana High School, West Feliciana Parish
Cole Grieshop, Destrehan High School, St. Charles Parish
John Cresson, Jr., St. Paul's School, Archdiocese of New Orleans