• Voters encouraged to cast daily votes

Star Valley High School Senior Eli Christiansen is in the quarterfinals running for America’s Favorite Student. The #1 student nationwide will appear in Reader’s Digest and receive a $20,000 cash prize. Quarterfinal voting concludes Thursday, May 7 at 8 p.m. MT. Voters are welcome to cast one daily vote free of charge or purchase multiple daily votes.

“Campaigning has been a good experience,” Eli said in an interview with SVI Media, as he discussed the increased connection to the community that this has created for him. “It’s been cool to do that.”

When he saw the ad for the competition, he thought, “I might as well,” recognizing this as an opportunity to grow as an individual and to potentially lend financial support to projects and programs that are important to him.

As of this writing, Eli is ranked seventh in his group of students, which includes other high school students throughout the nation. If he were to win the contest, which can only happen if he finishes first as a quarterfinalist and then again as a semifinalist, his winnings will go toward funding his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Chile, Puerto Montt mission, and his post high school education. He would also “probably donate to the football team’s Alaska trip” and possibly provide funding to the science camp that Dane Hepworth, who is currently in the Quarterfinals running for America’s Favorite Teacher, is hoping to create.

In addition to maintaining good academic standing, Eli played Center on the Offensive Line for the 2025 State Championship Star Valley Braves Football Team. He plays the trumpet in the SVHS Jazz Band, ran in the Wyoming State Indoor Track meet, plays hockey and baseball, and participates in ballroom dance. Eli was cast as Reuben, the oldest brother to Joseph, in the SVHS 2026 production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and serves as a youth leader in his faith community.

Accepted to Brigham Young University and the University of Wyoming, Eli is uncertain where he will attend college and is considering a community college “because I have been looking at all the scholarships I can get and they have a lot of music scholarships. Even if you don’t major in music, and, as long as you are part of the department, they will give you quite a bit of
subsidy in music.”

According to the voting web page, “America’s Favorite Student will share their educational journey in the pages of Reader’s Digest, highlighting the power of learning and inspiring readers nationwide.” Eli is a leading competitor “due to his hard work ethic, consistency, and hunger for knowledge. People value these characteristics.”

To vote for Eli, please visit americasfavstudent.org/2026/eli-26 or use the QR code with this article. Eli is the son of Joe and Denae Christiansen.