Welcome to the Pensacola News Journal’s Student of the Week poll.
The best and the brightest of Escambia and Santa Rosa County high schools will be highlighted weekly, with readers choosing the student they believe is best deserving of the top honor. All of the students in the weekly poll are nominated by school officials who know better than anyone their academic achievements.
Merely being on the list each week is an incredible feat.
Each school district is allowed to nominate up to six students weekly but are not required to nominate a specific number.
This week’s poll includes four candidates for one top Student of the Week. To vote: Scroll to the bottom of this article.
The poll will be posted at pnj.com each Tuesday, and voting will end on Friday at noon each week.
Vote for the best of the best. Below are all the nominees.
Tate High School – Garrett Groff
Garrett Groff, 12th grade: Garrett is an outstanding student whose dedication to both academics and music sets him apart as a truly deserving Student of the Week. Academically, he ranks in the top 10% of his class while successfully managing a full course load at the University of West Florida, demonstrating exceptional discipline, focus, and intellectual ability. Musically, Garrett’s achievements are equally impressive. He has served as an intern with First Baptist Church’s orchestra for the past four years, showing long term commitment and leadership within his community. He has held the role of Concertmaster for the All County Orchestra for five consecutive years and for the Tate Ace Orchestra for four years, highlighting his consistency and excellence as a leader among his peers. Additionally, he has been selected as a member of the All State Orchestra for three years, an honor that reflects his high level of performance and musicianship. Garrett currently serves as Concertmaster of the UWF Runge Orchestra and has taken on the role of Concertmaster for the Pensacola Symphony Youth Orchestra this semester. Beyond his own performance accomplishments, he is also dedicated to giving back by providing private lessons to ECSP violin and cello students and helping to develop the next generation of musicians. In August 2026, Garrett will attend Florida State University to continue both his academic and musical journey. His work ethic, leadership, and passion make him an exceptional role model, and he is highly deserving of this recognition.
Success Academy – Joshua Davis
Joshua Davis, 11th grade: According to his teachers, Joshua has a lovable attitude. Joshua is in the 11th grade here at Success Academy. He has a heart to do the right thing. Joshua puts a great amount of effort into his work. He really wants to be a good student and everyone can see that in him. He is the most improved student on my roster due to his work ethic and his pursuit of excellence. He reported that he is very proud of this being voted student of the month. He noted that this is the first time that he has ever received an award like this; he is also proud of the current grades he is making this school year. Joshua reported that his favorite subject in school is Art. His Art teacher noted that, this student has a wonderful disposition. They’re incredibly pleasant, and I enjoy having them in my class. I know I can count on this student to be a calm, enjoyable presence in my class. I’m continuously surprised by this student’s ability to thrive in tough situations. No matter what they face, they have a positive attitude. This personality trait is not only admirable but also shows great strength on their part. He reported that he plans to enter into the Air Force upon completion of high school. He smiled and reported that he has “learned to be a leader and not a follower since he has been here at Success Academy.” He noted that “he plans to lead by example via doing the right things, staying on the right track, (focusing on accomplishing his goals) and doing right even when no one is looking.” He reported that his mother told him to “stay on the right path and continue to pursue his dreams in life.” Joshua reported that his favorite teacher of time is Ms. Heath. He noted that she is a very caring teacher and she motivates him to do his best work in her classroom. It was a pleasure to interview this student for the Pensacola News Journal Student of the week. In addition to the above noted award, Joshua received the Escambia County Principals Award for Student of the Month for April 2026. Joshua is well deserving of this honor.
Northview High School – Annabelle Lynd
Annabelle Lynd, ninth grade: Annabelle is a very hard working, intelligent young woman. She is also very kind and considerate of other people. She is a selfless leader that is always looking to help others. Annabelle has passed several industry certifications this year. She is active in the Tribal Beat Band at Northview as a member of the color guard. She balances her extracurricular activities with also maintaining her studies at a high level. She is the type of student that every teacher would love to have in their class. Way to go Annabelle!
Navarre High School – Boston Rice
Boston Rice, ninth grade: Boston Rice is Navarre High School’s nominee for the Pensacola News Journal’s Student of the Week. Boston is an exceptionally active member of the Student Government Association (SGA). As a freshman, he has already demonstrated the leadership skills they value in their members, consistently displaying a positive attitude and a strong willingness to learn and contribute at various SGA events. He not only assists when needed but also takes initiative to complete tasks independently. Although he participates in several other clubs and organizations on campus, he continues to dedicate himself fully to SGA while maintaining a GPA above 4.0. His teachers have greatly enjoyed observing his growth in SGA this year and look forward to seeing the further impact he will have on his class and the broader school environment in the coming years. Boston is also deeply passionate about science. He has competed in numerous regional and state science fairs, and in the current school year, he was recognized as the Senior Grand Award Winner at the West Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair. In his spare time, he enjoys serving in preschool classes at his church. Boston plans to become a teacher after high school, where he hopes to inspire others with his enthusiasm for science and science fairs.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Who should be named PNJ’s Student of the Week? Cast your vote
Reporting by Chemarryn Thornton, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
