Knightly News

This year’s Valedictorian, Miniya Malone, has excelled in the classroom and far beyond. She represented the state of Louisiana on the national level, including at Girls Nation and the YMCA’s Conference on National Affairs.  Miniya is an Episcopal Webster Scholar and participated in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge student entrepreneurship program, the Episcopal Honors Thesis program, Youth Legislature, Model UN and much more. Miniya is a leader in the Episcopal Academic Resource Center, serving as the ARC Manager this year. She is a National Merit Finalist and an AP Scholar with Honor.

Miniya will attend Princeton University and major in public and international affairs. Before she takes the next step in her journey, we asked her to share more about her Episcopal experience.

1. What are you most proud of in your academic career thus far?

I take the most pride in how I've gotten to demonstrate leadership within my academic pursuits and help my peers. By serving in roles such as being a peer tutor, the President of our Mu Alpha Theta club, Vice-President of National Honor Society, a member of the Louisiana Youth and Government state board, and others, I've learned to prioritize not just my own success but the successes of all the members of my communities. It makes me so happy to be able to give back and use my skills to benefit others rather than just myself.  

2. What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your time at Episcopal?

During my four years at Episcopal, I learned first and foremost the importance of developing relationships and being part of a community. Episcopal is made up of a very diverse group of students, yet still remains a tight-knit community where for the most part, everyone knows everyone. Being part of the Episcopal community allowed me to escape from my comfort zone and become more comfortable forming connections and talking to so many different people, regardless of what grade or groups they belonged to. 

3. Why did you choose Princeton?

I chose to attend Princeton University because of its incredible community. Of all the universities I had the privilege of visiting and getting accepted into, the community of Princeton was by far the one I connected with the most. Due to its relatively small number of students and its strong, unparalleled undergraduate focus, I felt that becoming a Princetonian would allow me to once again benefit from a close and dedicated school environment where I can feel comfortable reaching out to my professors and peers. 

4. What are your goals for your time in college?

At Princeton, I hope to allow the dedication and unique skills of each of my peers to push my own personal development and growth. I hope to become a more engaged learner that utilizes my resources both in and outside of class to make a real-life impact on the world and allow myself to grow into a better and more educated global citizen through studying Public and International Affairs. 

Please join us in congratulating Miniya on her tremendous success. Share a message for her in the comments section below.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 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.