LULING — The Louisiana Department of Education announced Destrehan High School student Cole Grieshop as the 2016 Louisiana High School Student of the Year Wednesday at a ceremony held at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge.

Grieshop, the son of Vance and Patricia Grieshop of Destrehan, was selected based upon criteria measuring academic achievement, leadership skills, character, and service to the school and community.

“In St. Charles Parish Public Schools, we focus on six goals for student learning:  knowledgeable, competent person; critical thinker; collaborative contributor; involved citizen; creative producer; self-directed achiever; and effective communicator.  Cole is the epitome of these learner goals and a role model for all students across the state,” said St. Charles Parish Public Schools Superintendent Felecia Gomez-Walker.

Grieshop, an academically and athletically accomplished student at Destrehan High School, is the author of What Tides Offer Islands, a novel available for purchase through Amazon.

In addition to maintaining a 4.0 grade point average, he scored a 33 on the ACT, earning a perfect score of 36 on the writing portion, and a perfect score on his American History End-of-Course test.

On the soccer pitch, he is the starting defensive back for Destrehan High School, helping lead the Wildcats to a division championship.

Grieshop’s leadership at school can be seen through his involvement in the National Honor Society, where he serves as president, a creator and instructor of the school’s Advanced Placement Preparation Tutoring program, and captain of the Gifted Debate Team.

After graduation, Grieshop plans to attend Tulane University to earn a Bio-Medical Engineering degree and become a neurologist.

Destrehan High School Principal Stephen Weber said Grieshop models GPA – grit, perseverance, and (a positive) attitude, which is the DHS theme.

“In fact, Cole consistently exemplifies these characteristics every day,” Weber said. “He displays high character and is destined to be a successful citizen.  I am not surprised at all that the judges selected this remarkable leader as the state’s high school student of the year.”

The process of selecting winners begins at the school level.  All public and approved non-public high schools across the state are asked to submit one twelfth-grade candidate.

These students then compete with their peers at the district level and may advance to the regional competitions where Regional Finalists are chosen.

Each finalist then submits a portfolio and completes a written composition the day of the award ceremony.  An independent selection committee also interviews the finalists to evaluate their communication and critical thinking skills before selecting the winner.