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DESTREHAN — Eighth grader Trenton Mitchell was stunned when he found out he was the only student from the River Parishes advancing to the state-level Student of the Year competition.

St. Charles Parish Superintendent Felecia Gomez-Walker recently visited Harry Hurst Middle School in Destrehan to surprise Trenton with the news.

“We went into the principal’s office. They made it sound like I was in trouble, and I got a little scared,” Trenton said. “Then they revealed it to me. I was almost speechless because I was so surprised and amazed by it.”

Trenton won Student of the Year as a fifth grader but did not advance past the school level. This time around, he was motivated to reach new heights.

Trenton was one of 21 students named by the Louisiana Department of Education as regional finalists in the state’s annual Student of the Year competition. The finalists include one fifth, eighth and 12th grader from seven regions across the state.

This year’s competition is unique because it marks the first time students are being evaluated on their technical education achievements, according to a release from the Louisiana Department of Education. As always, students are also evaluated on academic success, leadership skills, character and service to their communities.

“These 21 regional finalists are among the top students in Louisiana, and we are proud of their commitment to learning and leadership,” said State Superintendent John White. “We are also proud to, for the first time, add a career and technical education supervisor to our selection panel and to update the selection criteria to include career-focused credentials and coursework to ensure all students, regardless of whether they are bound for college or career after graduation, are considered for the prize.”

The state Student of the Year winners for each grade level will be announced April 1 at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge. The state selection committee is comprised of K-12, higher education and community leaders who will review student portfolios and writing samples and conduct interviews with each finalist.

For Trenton, winning the state title would be humbling. Like most middle schoolers, he worries what others think of him, and it means a lot to know his school and community hold him in high regard.

“Just knowing that people think I’m worthy of this immense accomplishment is great,” Trenton said.

Through each level of the Student of the Year competition, Trenton has talked about how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) has shaped his vision for the future.

“It’s given me more of an appreciation for science and how that goes into the modern world,” Trenton said. “It’s something that I can make into a living. I want to pursue some branch of engineering.”

Aerospace engineering is of particular interest to Trenton. His father, who has always had a love for spacecraft, introduced him to the wonderful complexities of outer space at a young age. His younger sister is in the same boat, and she dreams of one day working for NASA.

However, Trenton doesn’t have to travel beyond the confines of the Earth to realize his interest in engineering. At home, he experiments with robotics using an Arduino kit that can be programmed to operate LED lights and motors. She enjoys going to technology camps and looks forward to joining Destrehan High School’s robotics club next year.

At Harry Hurst Middle, Trenton participates in LEGO League robotics. Each robot was programmed toperform tasks for competitions, whether it involved pushing down levers or dropping an object from a crane. Trenton is also part of a STEM class at school that exposes him to an array of real-life applications of science, technology, engineering and math.

At school, Trenton also takes part in 4-H and plays central midfielder/defender on the Roadrunners soccer team. He’s played soccer for 10 years, and he most enjoys the teamwork aspect. He’s also participated in service events including the Trash Bash and a student-led carnival hosted by the Beta Club.

Writing is another one of Trenton’s passions, and his genres of choice are fantasy and science fiction. Some of his favorite novels include “Fahrenheit 451” and “The Hobbit.”

“I enjoy writing fantasy because I can create my own worlds and characters that aren’t confined by reality,” Trenton said.

Trenton is curious and passionate, with a fascination for learning how the world works and a fierce loyalty for his family. His parents, David Mitchell and Nicole Hall-Mitchell, always encourage him to do his best. Trenton is also motivated by his 9-year-old cousin, Greyson Hall, who shows the world what it means to live with autism.

“His drive to learn and his curiosity inspires me to be just like him,” Trenton said. “All the things he has to push through to get to where he is inspires me to push through to get where I am.”