BATON ROUGE — East Baton Rouge Parish Schools celebrated academic excellence on Wednesday night, recognizing standout scholars from across the district at the annual Student of the Year ceremony.

Over a dozen elementary, middle and high school students were formally named the 2026–2027 District Students of the Year during an evening event hosted by WBRZ's 2une In anchor John Pastorek at McKinley Middle Academic Magnet School. Honorees took the stage to accept their trophies and commemorate the milestone with photos alongside district leadership.

School officials noted that the honorees' hard work reflects broader momentum and academic growth throughout the district.

"It says that we have an opportunity to be excellent," said EBR School Board President Shashonnie Steward. "It hasn't been an opportunity like this in years while students in our district have grown. The progress, the things that have been done in the last two and a half years, it states something. It states that EBR schools and the school system are on the right track, and we're here for the families and the communities."

Following their district-level recognition, the selected students will move forward to represent East Baton Rouge Parish in the upcoming statewide Student of the Year competition.