Find everything you need to participate in the Best & Brightest Awards, including application materials and details about scholarships and prizes. Whether you’re a student applicant, school counselor, or teacher, these resources will guide you through every step of the process.
SENIORS
Best & Brightest Awards Details
2026 Best & Brightest Application
Best & Brightest Scoring Rubric
Best & Brightest Coordinators at each school will receive a link to upload their Best & Brightest Finalists’ applications. If you need to request the link for your school, please contact Katie Harwood – kharwood@talchamber.com.
NEW THIS YEAR!
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.
8th GRADE ESSAY CONTEST
The Best & Brightest Awards invites Leon County 8th grade students to recognize their potential and dream about their future by participating in the 2025 Best & Brightest Awards Essay Contest. This year, students are invited to compose their essays on the following topic:
“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands: one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”
Audrey Hepburn
Best & Brightest 8th Grade Essay Contest Details
