Three STPPS Students Named Student of the Year Regional Honorees!

We are excited to announce that all three of our district Student of the Year winners have been recognized as 2026 Student of the Year Regional Honorees by the Louisiana Department of Education! These students were selected based on their excellence in leadership, academic performance, achievements, citizenship, and service to their school and community. 

Congratulations to Brix LaFontaine from Little Oak Middle, Robert Ryals from Fontainebleau Junior High, and Beija Lopes-Morgan Mandeville High for this incredible achievement. Regional honorees will move on to the next round of the competition where they will compete to be a finalist for state Student of the Year.
 

Meet the Students

Brix LaFontaine, Little Oak Middle (5th Grade)

Brix is a fifth-grade student at Little Oak Middle, where he serves as the ambassador for his class and is an active member of both the 4-H Club and Sunshine Committee. He loves sports and participates in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and swim. He has served as the captain of his football team the past four years. Outside of school, Brix is involved in various ministries and charitable efforts with a focus on helping others. Earlier this year, he created his own organization, Kicks with Brix, which collects shoes for kids in need. Brix aspires to become an engineer or a doctor when he grows up.

 

Robert Ryals IV, Fontainebleau Junior High (8th Grade)

Robert is an eighth-grade student at Fontainebleau Junior High with many talents and diverse interests. He plays tuba in the school’s concert band, bass in the Fontainebleau Junior High Jazz Ensemble, and participates in both the Talented Art and Talented Theatre programs. He is also an avid reader, averaging about two hours of reading a day, and even more on the weekend, allowing him to finish at least one book each week. Outside of school, he trains in Karate and has earned a black belt. He also volunteers in several capacities with Redemption Student Ministry. Robert plans to pursue a career in the military and forensic anthropology to embrace his passion for helping others.

Beija Lopes-Morgan, Mandeville High (12th Grade)

Beija is a senior at Mandeville High School who is focused on creating a better world for those around her. She serves as Student Body President and is an active member of Skipper Buddies Club, Waymaker Mentor Club, and the Lighthouse Leadership Team. Statewide, Beija is the K-12 Student Representative to the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, where she represents the voices of students in public, private, and charter schools across Louisiana. She also serves as the State Vice President of the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council and is a member of the Executive Board of Louisiana Association of Student Councils. In these roles, she advocates for equitable educational access and increased civic engagement. Beija also volunteers at a camp for students with special needs and gives her time to Special Olympics Louisiana. After graduation, she plans to pursue studies in Public Policy with a concentration in Educational Policy, with the goal of a career in civil service.