Izabel Durst, Barneveld senior, was selected rom a pool of more than 724 nominated seniors across 379 Wisconsin high schools as one of 32 have earned the distinction of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (WIAA) Scholar Athlete Finalist for 2026.
Sixteen senior girls and 16 senior boys – representing communities from Dresser to Janesville – have been selected to receive the prestigious award, presented by We Energies Foundation and Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. More than 1,344 Scholar Athlete finalists have been recognized since the program began in 1984.
To determine the top 32 finalists, four boys and four girls were selected based on both athletic and academic achievement from each of four WIAA divisions.
The academic credentials of this year’s class are remarkable – nearly two-thirds of the finalists have maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA, and together they hold a cumulative GPA of 3.96.
“On behalf of the WIAA and our membership, it’s an honor to recognize these scholar athletes for the discipline, integrity, and commitment they’ve shown in both the classroom and competition,” said Jake Beschta, Assistant Director of the WIAA. “Their achievements reflect not only personal excellence, but also the support of their families, coaches, and schools. We are proud to celebrate students who truly embody the balance of academics and athletics, and we look forward to the positive impact they will continue to make in their communities and beyond.”
The 2026 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Sunday, May 3 at Sentry World in Stevens Point. The keynote speaker will be Wisconsin native Laken James, former professional basketball player and founder of Five Star Academy.
A live stream of the awards program will be available on the websites of the State Television Network stations, including WXOW-TV, WQOW-TV, WAOW-TV, WKOW- TV, WVTV and WCWF at 1:00 p.m. on May 3. A delayed telecast of the ceremony will be aired on a future date.
More information is available on the WIAA’s website,