Knightly News

Walking around Episcopal’s campus, there are many reminders that our school identity is tied to our mascot. There are suggestions of knights everywhere—from suits of armor to graphics of swords and shields. 

But these days, there is one bit of knightly regalia in the Upper School Office that aims to mean a little more—the Shield of the Shining Knights.

Several years ago, the tradition of students acknowledging students as “Shining Knights” began. But over the pandemic and time, its practice faded like much else. This year’s Upper School Student Council leaders have resurrected the tradition and reinvigorated it with a new sense of purpose.

In the words of Student Council Vice-President Akshay Basireddy, the Shining Knight Award “shows students recognizing their peers for their attitude and personality behind the scenes. While serving as a needed award for those amazing people, it also encourages others to step up and make a difference at our school.”

The Student Council set three straightforward criteria. A Shining Knight must be a student who is well-known for:

• Demonstrating out of the ordinary love and passion for the school and their peers;
• Acting kindly and inspiringly out of a natural inclination to care for the school and others; and
• Representing the community through a celebration of Episcopal’s mission and Honor Code.

The criteria for winning is fully administered by students themselves, from nominations to deliberations among a committee of elected student leaders. Student Council Chief of Staff Margaret Harrell (‘23) points out, “Teachers and administration have no say whatsoever about who receives the award, allowing students to take part truly in recognizing valuable people in our community.” The Student Council’s vision is about students honoring students.

Since September of this school year, the Student Council has honored eight students as Shining Knights:

• Frances LeJeune (‘23) and Logan Burge (‘23)
• Olivia Melancon (‘24) and Ahebwa Muhumuza (‘24)
• Bria Coleman (‘25) and Jackson Ezell (‘25)
• Elizabeth Esch (‘26) and Jacob Hutchinson Johnson (‘26)

On top of receiving certificates and imprinting their signature on the Shield of the Shining Knights, all winners are announced in assembly by an administrator and treated to a video of statements from peers and teachers about their admirable characteristics. 

The award has given students a greater sense of unified identity. Upper School Dean of Students Matt Holt has noticed that by “recognizing the excellent character of their peers,” the award “illuminates the values set forth by our Episcopal Honor Code and allows the community to witness those values in an individual.” Or as a Shining Knight herself, Elizabeth Esch (‘26) puts it, the award “inspires me, as well as my classmates, to better support our community.” 

The Shining Knight Awards are just one way that students are rising to meet new standards of leadership. From awards like this to leadership summits and service projects, all Upper School students are contributing to the renewed, post-pandemic sense of community spirit. And in doing so, they honor their potential as the kinds of future leaders that only Episcopal can produce.

So it means a lot these days to be a student in the Upper School. And though the Shield of the Shining Knights, adorned with the signatures of each winner, rests in the Upper School office as a beacon of this, Shining Knight Frances LeJeune (‘23) knows that the students are brighter still. 

“I was surprised to receive this award,” she noted with humble sincerity, “because many of my classmates deserve this.”

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2024-2025 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.