BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana Department of Education on Wednesday evening named the winners of the 2018 Students of the Year competition during an awards ceremony at the Louisiana State Museum. The winners--one student from the elementary, middle and high school grades--were selected based on criteria that measure academic achievement, leadership skills, character and service to their schools and community.
"Louisiana students are as smart and as capable as any in the nation. These incredible students and future leaders embody that sentiment, " said State Superintendent John White. "We are proud of the hard work they contribute to not only their schools and communities, but the entire state."
The 2018 Students of the Year include:
Elementary School: 5th Grade
Zoe Alessandra Dieringer attends Joseph B. Lancaster Elementary School in St. Tammany Parish. At school, she participates in the academically gifted program and maintains a 4.0 GPA. She plays the flute in the Lancaster Band, voluntarily tutors her peers during recess and holds membership in the Lancaster Nutritional Advisory Club. She was previously the Treasurer of the Student Council. Outside of school, Zoe is an award-winning dancer who enjoys music, swimming, cooking and reading. She is passionate about eliminating bullying and ensuring equity in education. She hopes to one day become a professional ballerina, astrophysicist and author.
Middle School: 8th Grade
Ashini Ashish Modi attends Caddo Middle Magnet School in Caddo Parish. At school, she participates in the academically gifted and talented theatre and visual arts programs and maintains a 4.0 GPA. She currently serves as an orchestra section leader, the Secretary of the 4-H Club, and a counselor and intern for the Young Scholar STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) program. Outside of school, Ashini dances, plays violin and volunteers at local homeless and animal shelters. She also founded the Reading Rain Forest Library and coordinates book drives and story time events in her community. She has won numerous academic, art and service awards and has been invited to be a guest speaker for the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society. Ashini enjoys reading, painting, classical Indian dancing and ballet, and acting. She hopes to one day become a neurosurgeon.
High School: 12th Grade
Sunjay Letchuman attends Caddo Parish Magnet High School in Caddo Parish. At school, he participates in the academically gifted and talented music programs, maintains a 4.0 GPA and scored a 35 on his ACT. He is a National Merit Semifinalist and an Advanced Placement Scholar. He is a current member of the cross-country track team and Scrabble Club, serves leadership roles in Mock Trial Club, Key Club and the Asian Studies Association, and voluntarily tutors his peers. Outside of school, Sunjay has taught gardening and cooking classes and volunteered at a local Veterans Affairs hospital. He has won numerous academic awards and was a Student of the Year state finalist in 8th grade. Sunjay is passionate about personal finance and medicine. He has published a handbook for high school students about financial planning and conducts research on coronary artery bypass grafting. He hopes to one day work in the medical field.
In addition to announcing the overall winners, the Department recognized all 21 regional finalists with certificates.
The annual competition has multiple steps. First, all public and non-public schools are asked to submit one candidate from their student body. Students then compete with their peers at the school system level, and winners advance to the regional competitions.
At the regional level, students are selected based on criteria that measure academic achievement, leadership skills, character, and service to their schools and communities. Regional selection committees use student-made portfolios of accomplishments, along with student writing samples and interviews, to assess the communication and critical-thinking skills of each candidate.
At the state level, each regional finalist completes a written composition the day of the awards ceremony, and a state selection committee comprising K-12, higher education and community leaders reviews the students' portfolios and writing samples and conducts final interviews with them.
For more information about the annual competition, click here.
For photographs of the 2018 Louisiana Students of the Year awards ceremony, visit the Department's Facebook page.
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