BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) — A Vermilion Parish girl has been named Louisiana middle school Student of the Year, the Louisiana Department of Education has announced.

Rylann Renee Viator is an eighth grader at Erath Middle School.

According to the announcement, Viator has consistently maintained honor roll status and is a well-rounded student excelling in academics, athletics and the arts. She is an active volunteer and serves as a leader in the student council, Junior Beta Club, and 4-H, where she earned first place in public speaking. Viator is especially passionate about promoting the responsible use of social media among her peers.

LDOE named three 2025 Students of the Year and honored 24 regional finalists during a ceremony at The Cook Hotel and Conference Center in Baton Rouge on Friday.

The other honorees are fifth grader Mary Mack Thornton from Caddo Parish and 12th grader Neal Pramod Tandon from Jefferson Parish.

“Each of these students have distinguished themselves through exceptional academic performance, leadership, and service,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “They are proof that hard work and high expectations yield extraordinary results.”

According to LDOE, 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 conduct interviews to assess communication and critical thinking skills.

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