University View Academy senior Charles Fountain was named a finalist for the 2026 Louisiana Student of the Year competition by the Louisiana Department of Education on Tuesday (Feb. 24).
“We want to congratulate Charles for advancing this far in the Louisiana Student of the Year Awards Program. He represents UVA so well. He personifies leadership, discipline, dedication, and academic achievement,” said Dr. Quentina Timoll, UVA Superintendent.
“He’s done amazing things this year, and we are really excited to celebrate him along with his future in aviation. Being a student at UVA has given him the flexibility to pursue his dreams, and we are proud to be a part of his incredible journey.”
Fountain has been a student at UVA since the 2019-20 academic year. A straight-A student with a 4.7 GPA, Fountain has served on the Student Leadership Council at UVA as the vice chair, founded and captained the UVA Quiz Bowl Club, and he served as a reporter for UVA’s school paper, Paw Prints.
Fountain has plans to enter the United States Air Force Special Operations Command following graduation at UVA. He aspires to become a 2nd Lt. and C-146 Wolfhound pilot through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Fountain is one of eight finalists selected from across the state of Louisiana for the high school award. Honorees for the Louisiana Student of the Year are selected based on criteria that measure academic achievement, leadership skills, character, and service to their schools and communities. Regional selection committees also use electronic portfolios of accomplishments, along with student writing samples and interviews to assess the communications and critical thinking skills of each candidate.
Finalists were selected among student of the year winners from schools across the state. All Louisiana schools were eligible to submit one candidate. Students compete with their peers at the school system level and may advance to the zone and regional competitions. Prior to selecting the three state winners, the state selection committee will conduct interviews and review a writing sample from each of the finalists as well as their portfolios.
Visit doe.louisiana.gov for the full list of honorees.
University View Academy is Louisiana’s premier tuition-free K-12 online school. We offer a flexible, personalized education choice for residents across Louisiana that is powered by state-certified teachers and supported by in-person Micro Academies.