Participate in Best & Brightest

Graduating seniors enrolled in accredited high schools in Leon County are eligible for nomination for the Best & Brightest Awards.

• The principal of each public and private high school may nominate one student per category (up to 15 nominees total).
• Schools are not required to nominate a student for every category.

A student’s record of community service and leadership is the most important element of the Best & Brightest application. Successful applicants demonstrate a strong, consistent history of service throughout their high school years, making a meaningful impact on their schools and communities from grades 9 through 12.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Each application must include:

• Completed Best & Brightest Application
• Unofficial Transcript
• One faculty letter of recommendation focused on community or school service
• One-page résumé summarizing awards, leadership roles, and extracurricular involvement including work experience if applicable.
• Up to 8 pages (single-sided) of supporting documents (such as award certificates, photos, news articles, etc.). Preferably these are in one PDF file. Additional uploads will not be reviewed.

Finalists must attend their scheduled interview to remain eligible for top awards. Failure to attend, without prior arrangements, will result in disqualification. Interviews will be on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Volunteer community judges, selected for their expertise in each category, serve on independent panels to review applications and conduct interviews. Judges make their decisions independently and do not consult with panels from other categories.

• Interview Day: Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Cobb Middle School
• Awards Ceremony: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 6:30pm at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Through a partnership with Florida Prepaid Foundation, recipients of the Best & Brightest Awards will receive the following:

• Winners: 2-year college tuition scholarship ($5,000 value) or $1,500 cash prize
• Runners-Up: 1-year college tuition scholarship ($2,500 value) or $750 cash prize
• Honorable Mentions: $500 cash prize

Scholarships are in partnership with the Florida Prepaid Foundation and may be used at in-state, out-of-state, and private schools nationwide. May be combined with existing Florida Prepaid accounts. Finalists will be required to choose which prize they wish to receive should they win on Interview Day.