Payge Celestin, 13, was recently announced as the 2025-26 University View Academy (UVA) Middle School Student of the Year. As UVA extended Louisiana’s Student of the Year program to all three of its school levels this academic year, Celestin is the first eighth grader at UVA to be awarded this honor.
Celestin, a resident of East Baton Rouge Parish, enrolled at UVA in sixth grade. She enjoys connecting with her teachers and the freedom to take breaks throughout the day, allowing her to focus better on her schoolwork. She has a special enthusiasm for science and loves the science experiment kits that UVA provides.
UVA’s flexible schedule also empowers Celestin to pursue her passions outside of school. She enjoys creative writing, crocheting, roller blading, drawing, and painting. “I like to create stories through my drawings without words,” Celestin shared. “Whenever I have different moods, I draw different things, and flipping through the pages of my old sketchbooks, it’s like my whole life is written in the book.”
In addition to her creativity, service and volunteering are central to Celestin’s life, and her aspiration is to be a nurse. “My sister was going to be a nurse, and I want to follow in her footsteps,” Celestin said. “I would love to work in the NICU, or be an RN, helping people whenever they’re sick. Recently our family had a bit of a health problem, and I want to help people, just like how the nurses at the hospital helped our family.”
Celestin is well on her way to fulfilling her dream. She dedicates much of her time to serving her community and thrives in her school studies, maintaining excellent grades. What is most important to her is kindness and positivity. “I want to put a smile on somebody’s face and just spread as much love as I can,” Celestin said.
Each fall, 5th, 8th, and 12th grade students are asked to submit applications for the Student of the Year award program which recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, academic rigor, citizenship, and service. Congratulations to Payge Celestin as UVA’s first middle school Student of the Year.