Phoenixville Student Advances in 'America's Favorite Student' Contest

Daylen needs public votes to continue advancing and win the $20,000 prize.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:53pm

A high-contrast, silkscreen-style illustration of a repeated student object, such as a backpack or notebook, in a grid of bright, neon colors and heavy black outlines, capturing the energy and creativity of a national student competition.A vibrant celebration of student achievement and community support through the lens of a national competition.Phoenixville Today

A student from Phoenixville Area High School has advanced to the next round of the national 'America's Favorite Student' competition, which is sponsored by Bill Nye and awards the winner $20,000. The competition is determined by public voting, and Daylen currently sits in third place with just over three days left to vote.

Why it matters

The 'America's Favorite Student' competition aims to celebrate student curiosity and achievement while also raising funds for the Planetary Society, a large space education nonprofit. Daylen's advancement highlights the talents and community involvement of a local student.

The details

The opening round of the competition, which ran from March 12 through March 26, whittled down four different groups of 48 students down to 20. The current round will drop that top 20 down to a top 15, and Daylen is currently in third place. The top 15 round is followed by a top 10 round, a top 5 round, and then finally a round that selects the winner of each of the four groups. Quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship rounds follow, with the winner determined on May 21.

  • The opening round of the competition ran from March 12 through March 26.
  • The current round will drop the top 20 down to a top 15, with just over three days left to vote.
  • The winner of the competition will be determined on May 21.

The players

Daylen

A student at Phoenixville Area High School who has advanced to the next round of the 'America's Favorite Student' competition.

Bill Nye

The sponsor of the 'America's Favorite Student' competition.

The Planetary Society

A large space education nonprofit that is the beneficiary of funds raised through the 'America's Favorite Student' competition.

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What they’re saying

“I love to know what has happened in our nations past and learn from it. I also love history because it allows me to connect things from the past to now, and see the differences and similarities.”

— Daylen, Student

What’s next

Daylen needs votes from the public to continue advancing and to win the $20,000 prize. The top 15 round is followed by a top 10 round, a top 5 round, and then finally a round that selects the winner of each of the four groups. Quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship rounds follow, with the winner determined on May 21.

The takeaway

The 'America's Favorite Student' competition provides a platform to celebrate the talents and achievements of local students like Daylen, while also raising funds for important educational initiatives like the Planetary Society. Daylen's advancement highlights the community support and involvement of Phoenixville students.