Jaylee Erin Hough, a fifth-grade student from Bienville Parish named a Regional Honoree in the Louisiana Department of Education’s 2026 Students of the Year program, recognizing exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, and service.

The Louisiana Department of Education, in partnership with the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), announced the 2026 regional honorees on Jan. 6, highlighting outstanding fifth, eighth, and twelfth grade students from across the state. The Students of the Year program honors students who demonstrate excellence in leadership, academic performance, achievements, citizenship, and service to their schools and communities.

Regional honorees are selected through a competitive review process involving public, charter, and nonpublic schools within each BESE region. From this distinguished group, one honoree per BESE region will be named a finalist later in the school year. Finalists will be announced and recognized at a statewide awards ceremony, where one overall honoree per grade level will be selected.

Hough will continue in the selection process as the Students of the Year program progresses later this school year.