Families and students gathered at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on the Florida State University campus to celebrate 130 of the city’s most accomplished high school seniors as they embark on their futures.
On Wednesday, May 13, the 21st annual Best and Brightest Awards Ceremony was bursting with energy as a kickoff to graduation season.
Under bright lights, the students smiled from the stage of the performance hall, wearing shiny gold medals to mark their status as one of Tallahassee’s Best and Brightest.
“For more than two decades, the Best & Brightest Awards have celebrated students who not only excel academically, but also lead through service and character,” said Katie Harwood, manager of talent development for the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. “This year’s finalists and winners represent the very best of Leon County and we are proud to recognize the incredible impact they’ve already made in their schools and throughout our community.”
Coordinated by World Class Schools of Leon County, a subsect of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, the annual event is a community effort uplifted by major sponsors like Addition Financial Credit Union, Sachs Media and the Tallahassee Democrat.
First launched in 2006, the program has recognized nearly 3,000 high school seniors and doled out more than $1 million in scholarships.
Students are nominated by their schools for one of 15 categories ranging from technology to art. Finalists are then interviewed and selected by judges to be one of the top three finishers as a winner, runner up or honorable mention.
This year, students had the option to receive a prepaid tuition scholarship or a cash award. Category winners received a $5,000 Florida Prepaid College Foundation Scholarship covering two years of college tuition. Runner-ups receive a one-year Florida Prepaid scholarship and honorable mentions receive a $500 cash award.
The Spirit of the Best & Brightest Award was given to Dylan Lawson, a Leon High School student and the winner from the English and language arts category. The spirit award included $2,500 in scholarship money.
Lawson helped lead a national literacy book drive with the National English Honor Society that provided over 500 books to children in need.
”Reading books allows you to step into other people’s shoes that you might not have experienced,” Lawson said. “It’s the language of people and the language of community.”
Here are the 2026 honorees:
Art
Athletics
Business & Entrepreneurship
Career & Technical Education
Drama & Performing Arts
English & Language Arts
Journalism & Media Production
Leadership
Mathematics
Music
Public Speaking
Science & Health
Social Studies
Technology
World Languages
8th Grade Essay Contest Winners
Alaijah Cross covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at abrown@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee’s best and brightest seniors earn scholarships
Reporting by Alaijah Cross, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
