LSMSA Selects Peter Yu ('25), of Choudrant, as 2024-2025 Student of the Year

 

 

 

The Students of the Year Awards Program, administered by the Louisiana Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, is an annual initiative which recognizes outstanding K-12 students in Louisiana who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, service, citizenship, and academic or technical achievement. The competition is open to every Louisiana public school as well as approved non-public schools. The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) in Natchitoches has named Peter Yu ('25), a native of Choudrant in Lincoln Parish, as its 2024-2025 Student of the Year.

Regional honorees in each of the three categories—Elementary School Student of the Year, Middle/Junior High School Student of the Year, and High School Student of the Year—will advance in the selection process. Winners at the district, regional, and state level will be selected using such factors as the student's portfolio, writing samples, and interview results. Louisiana's overall Students of the Year will be announced in Spring 2025.

“Peter is living the life of a true LSMSA student,” said Dr. Steve Horton, Executive Director and CEO of LSMSA. “His intellect, combined with his ability to try new things, has allowed him to take several ‘roads less traveled,’ which will give him a leading edge when he makes his final decision for where his higher education will lead him. He is a pleasure to know, and he’s one of those students who will always be remembered for his spirit and dedication.”

Yu currently serves as President of LSMSA's Student Government Organization and is a well-known figure on campus. On Sept. 12, it was announced that he will receive the 2025 Congressional Award Gold Medal, the highest honor that a member of the U.S. House or Senate may bestow upon a youth. Yu is an All-State swimmer and serves as Team Captain for the Natchitoches Central High School (NCHS) swim team. He led the NCHS team to its highest performance in school history at the state swim meet—in a year when the team had no coach. He created an ad-free online videogaming platform, AZGames, which boasts tens of thousands of active users. He was the only Louisiana delegate to attend the 2024 National Youth Science Camp in West Virginia and, by the end of his junior year at LSMSA, he had published two first-authored research papers, presented at several national conferences, and been recognized by the American Psychological Association for his work developing an algorithm that can accurately detect mental health emergencies among online message board users.

“To me, being named Student of the Year is not a solo achievement, it's a journey I’ve shared with those who’ve lifted me along the way,” Yu said. “This honor belongs to them as much, if not more, than it does to me. It motivates me to keep growing and helping others.”

For more information on the Louisiana Department of Education's 2024 Louisiana Students of the Year competition, visit www.LouisianaBelieves.com. For more information on LSMSA, or to apply for admission for the Fall ’25 term, visit www.LSMSA.edu.

ABOUT LSMSA
LSMSA is a tuition-free, public high school for high-achieving sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a nominal room and board fee to cover housing, meals, and campus activities. The LSMSA Foundation offers assistance for families so that no eligible student is denied the school’s 42-year legacy of a college-level living/learning experience. For more information about LSMSA, or to apply for the Fall ‘25 academic school year, visit www.LSMSA.edu.