Livingston Parish Students Earn Top-10 Awards at 2026 National Beta Convention
Denham Springs Student Selected as National Beta Ambassador
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Students from Livingston Parish demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, creativity, leadership, and service at the 2026 National Beta Convention, held June 16–20 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, winning top honors in some of the convention’s most competitive academic and leadership events.
The top honors included Denham Springs student Kate Dentro being selected as the 2026-2027 National Beta Ambassador, and French Settlement High School winning the National Champion in the Beta Blitz competition and Denham Springs High
School winning the National Champion in the Senior Spanish Academic Test.
"The success of these students reflects countless hours of preparation, dedication, and support from teachers, sponsors, administrators, families, and the community," said Superintendent Jody Purvis. "Their accomplishments on the national stage make Livingston Parish and the State of Louisiana incredibly proud."
The National Ambassador selection process included a rigorous application and interview process designed to identify students who exemplify National Beta’s pillars of achievement, character, leadership, and service. Out of candidates from across the country, Dentro is one of only three students selected to serve as National Beta Ambassadors for the coming year.
As a National Ambassador, she will represent National Beta and the state of Louisiana throughout the year, serving as a student leader and advocate for Beta members across the nation. Her selection reflects not only her academic accomplishments but also her dedication to leadership, service, and making a positive impact within her school and community.
Students from Denham Springs High School, Holden High School and French Settlement High School competed in various events and activities. Together, they earned 17 Top-10 national placements academic and leadership events.
Denham Springs High School students earned the following honors – National Ambassador (Kate Dentro), Senior Spanish Academic Test, Champion; Onsite Painting (Div 1), 2nd Place; All the World is a Stage (West Division), 3rd Place; Meeting of the Minds, 4th Place; Reimagine, Recreate, Recycle, 4th Place; Onsite Art – Drawing (Div II), 5th Place; Project Proposal, 5th Place; Beta Blitz, 6th Place; Robotics, 6th Place; Black & White Photography (Div I), 9th Place; Sculpture (Div I), 9th Place; and Convention Invention, 10th Place.
French Settlement High School students earned the following honors – Beta Blitz, Champion; Project Proposal, 2nd Place; Digital Portfolio, 3rd place; and Being Better Betas, 4th place.
Holden High School students earned 4th place in the Variety Act competition.
As the largest independent, nonprofit educational youth organization in America, the National Convention brings together the highest-performing Beta students from across the United States to compete in academic tests, fine arts, leadership events, STEM challenges, and team competitions after advancing through state-level competition. Louisiana proved to be a key player in the weeklong competitions, discussions, projects, and awards.