OFE Names 2026 Academic All-State Honorees

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence will honor 100 Oklahoma public school seniors as members of its 2026 Academic All-State class.

The Academic All-State class will be recognized at OFE’s Academic Awards Celebration on May 2 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Each honoree will receive a $1,500 award, an honor cord and a medallion. The celebration is open to the public, and registration is open at OFE.org.

At the event, OFE recognizes each All-State honoree alongside an educator who has significantly impacted that student’s academic success.

“This is our 40th Academic All-State class, and every year we are amazed by our honorees’ academic accomplishments and deep involvement in their school communities,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “By celebrating them alongside their teachers, we send a powerful message about the importance of public education and great educators.”

Since the program launched in 1987, OFE has honored 4,001 All-Staters from 345 school districts.

This year’s honorees are from 63 public schools in 58 districts. Three schools are celebrating their first Academic All-Stater: Fox, Grandfield and Tulsa Honor Academy. Grandfield and Tulsa Honor Academy each have two All-Staters, marking the first time since 2008 that a school’s first two All-Staters have occurred in the same class.

Students can apply for Academic All-State only if they meet one of three criteria: an ACT composite score of at least 30; a combined SAT evidence-based reading & writing and math score of at least 1370; or having been selected as a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

A selection committee evaluates applicants through a rigorous process based on academic achievement, leadership and community service, as well as letters of recommendation and an essay. A diverse group of business, education and civic leaders that includes past honorees makes up the committee. Dayna Rowe, a Yukon resident with decades of experience in the public education sector, serves as chair. The committee works independently of other foundation activities.

The 2026 All-State class averaged a 33 on the ACT, with nine honorees scoring a perfect 36. Their weighted average GPA is 4.36, and 38 are semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

OFE, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. The foundation elevates public education through esteemed honors, grants to K-12 mentoring programs, support for public school foundations and partnerships that provide exceptional professional development to educators.