Bellefonte native in the running for ‘America’s Favorite Student.’ Here’s how to vote
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- A Bellefonte student is competing in this year’s “America’s Favorite Student” contest.
- The winning student will receive a $20,000 grand prize.
- You can vote once per day to help him advance in the competition.
A Bellefonte student is in the running for a national honor.
Kieran Long, a fourth grader at Marion Walker Elementary School, is one of many young scholars hoping to become “America’s Favorite Student.” The 10-year-old Bellefonte student currently sits at the top of his voting group in the contest, which will award a $20,000 prize to one grand prize winner later this year.
Long’s contest profile describes him as a “rock star” student who excels in math and reading. He is enrolled in Bellefonte’s gifted education program and has already read 17 books this year as part of Marion-Walker Elementary’s reading competition team.
“This has helped him tremendously, and it has given him his love for school,” Long’s mother, Robyn, wrote in an email to the Centre Daily Times. “He loves going and has grown so much in an area with such a hometown, community feel.”
Robyn Long said her son has ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and has “worked harder than most” to improve his impulse control, working memory and self-regulation. She said he “constantly beats the odds with his fighting spirit.”
“We came from Maryland, and when we had children, we thought we might put our kids into a private school. But when we moved up here, we didn’t feel the need to because the public school system is so fantastic,” Robyn said. “All of the teachers have felt like family and have been so supportive, and Bellefonte’s gifted program is amazing. His teacher has worked wonders, and that has been a really great resource for us.”
Should her son win the grand prize, Robyn Long said the funds would be earmarked to help his future educational efforts, including traveling across the country to tour colleges.
How can I vote?
You can vote for Long once every 24 hours before the current group voting stage ends on April 23. His profile page is available at americasfavstudent.org/2026/kieran-10.
Long has endured several rounds of cuts in the group voting stage since voting began in mid-March. If he remains in first place at the round’s end, he will advancate to the quaterfinals, matching him up against other group-winning students from across the country. Semifinal and final rounds are scheduled for voting in May before the grand prize winner is revealed no later than June 5.
Long’s mother, Robyn, said her family can’t thank Bellefonte’s community enough for supporting them by voting and spreading the word.
“We did not expect to be where we are right now. We are very grateful for our community pulling together,” Robyn Long said. “We moved here six or seven years ago, and we’ve felt a real connection to the community. It was an amazing choice we made, and we know we made the right decision.”
The overall winner of the “America’s Favorite Student” contest will receive a $20,000 prize for educational purposes, plus a photo shoot and spread in an upcoming Reader’s Digest magazine. The top student will also receive a tour of The Planetary Society’s headquarters in Pasadena, California, alongside Bill Nye, the famed scientist and television host who serves as the nonprofit’s chief ambassador.
The “America’s Favorite Student” contest is open to children between the ages of 6 and 17 in the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). It is presented by Colossal, a professional fundraiser organizer headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.
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