Who should be named PNJ's Student of the Week? Cast your vote
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.
Success Academy - Ty'kieara Turner
Ty'kieara Turner, 11 th grade: According to her teachers, Ms. Turner is an exceptional student. She is attentive, studious, and prideful of what she produces in the classroom. She is always eagerly willing to assist her classmates to achieve a similar level of success. Ty'kieara delves into inquiry. Upon discovering a satisfactory answer, she almost instantaneously proposes a challenge to it. There is not a more refreshing example of a lifelong learner nor a more deserving candidate for January's student of the month. Ty'kieara smiled and reported that "she is proud of the opportunity that this school has provided for her to make better decisions and to move forward and live a productive life." She noted that her favorite subject in school is math and she has started to like math more since she has been here at Success Academy. Ty'kieara reported that she plans to attend college and become a veterinarian, upon completion of high school. She noted that she will be the first person in her immediate family to go to college and get a college degree; she is proud of being able to pursue this family milestone. Ty'kieara reported that "she has learned from the mistakes of her past and she will not allow the mistakes of her past to determine her future success." She reported that her mother has forgiven her for her past mistakes and her mother is proud of the fact that she wants to do something positive in her life. She reported that her favorite teacher is Ms. Jackson. She reported that Ms. Jackson has helped to understand Geometry and to really think about the problem in a way that she could understand what the problem was asking her to do. It was a pleasure to interview this student for the Pensacola News Journal Student of the week. Ty'kieara is well deserving of this honor.
Pensacola High School - Gianni Dian
Gianni Dian, 12 th grade: Gianni Dian of Pensacola High School is the kind of student who thrives on challenge, leadership, and curiosity. A driven scholar-athlete with aspirations of becoming an orthopedic surgeon, Gianni consistently pushes himself to excel both inside and outside of the classroom. His academic record reflects a deep commitment to learning, particularly in the sciences, where his fascination with psychology, biology, chemistry, and engineering fuels both his studies and his future goals. Gianni developed an early interest in understanding human behavior and the science behind how things work. That curiosity has only grown stronger over time and is evident in the way he immerses himself in learning. Gianni's list of awards and honors demonstrates his well-rounded excellence. He is a two-time recipient of the Extra Inning Award for baseball, an honor recognizing strong academic performance and outstanding dedication to the team. He earned this award for maintaining high grades while demonstrating unwavering commitment to baseball, leading by example, boosting team morale, and serving as a mentor to younger teammates. His recognition reflects both athletic skill and character, underscoring his ability to balance rigorous academics with competitive sports. Having competed competitively in football, basketball, and track, he later focused intensely on baseball and lion dance. One of Gianni's most meaningful contributions has been through his CAS project, Reading to Recovery. Through this initiative, he and his peers read to patients, bringing comfort and positivity to individuals facing difficult circumstances. The experience profoundly impacted him, reinforcing his desire to contribute to something greater than himself. He has described the pride and fulfillment he feels in sharing happiness with others, and the project was so meaningful that he wrote about it in his college essay. Within this group, Gianni found a community built on motivation and perseverance, where members uplifted one another while serving others. Gianni's academic record accurately reflects his dedication as a student, but it does not fully capture the depth of his generosity and involvement in his church community. As an altar server and active participant working alongside the church council, he helps prepare for masses, festivals, weddings, and funerals, and has contributed to the planning and design of a new church building. His service demonstrates responsibility, faith, and a commitment to community that extends far beyond school hours. In college, Gianni hopes to continue challenging himself academically as he works toward medical school. After shadowing an orthopedic surgeon for two summers, he discovered a passion for the field and now aspires to become an orthopedic surgeon himself. Beyond career goals, he envisions a life centered on family, service, and mentorship, where he can support his future children in their own athletic pursuits just as he has been supported in his journey. Gianni Dian represents the very best of Pensacola High School: a student who pairs intellectual curiosity with competitive drive, leadership with humility, and ambition with heart.
Northview High School - Rose Denham
Rose Denham, 11 th grade: Rose Denham is a junior at Northview High school. She is being nominated Student of the Week for her hard work and dedication. Rose is always sure to complete and turn in all of her work and has improved greatly from first to second semester. She comes in with a smile on her face and ready to work every day. Rose is soft spoken, but is always ready to step up and lend a hand to her classmates and teachers if asked.
Tate High School - Lelah Landy
Lelah Landy, 12 th grade: Lelah is an all-star art student -- she is currently taking 5 art classes (including AP 3D Art and AP Drawing) -- and an extremely hard worker! She is very enthusiastic and always up for a challenge, and is always friendly and upbeat. In the 2 years she's been in my class, I don't think I've ever heard her say anything negative or come in with a bad attitude. She definitely deserves the recognition!
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Who should be named PNJ's Student of the Week? Cast your vote
