PHOTOS PROVIDED Kieran Long, 10, of Bellefonte, is pictured in images shared on the “America’s Favorite Student” contest website.

PHOTOS PROVIDED
Kieran Long, 10, of Bellefonte, is pictured in images shared on the “America’s Favorite Student” contest website.

BELLEFONTE — Kieran Long, a fourth grader at Marion-Walker Elementary School, is among the semifinalists in the running to be named “America’s Favorite Student.”

Ranked second in the semifinals, Long, 10, of Bellefonte, is within reach of the $20,000 grand prize.

Organized by fundraising platform Colossal, the “America’s Favorite Student” competition benefits The Planetary Society, the world’s largest nonprofit space organization.

Along with the cash prize, the winner will appear in Reader’s Digest and tour The Planetary Society headquarters in California with Bill Nye.

Should he win, Long said he plans to donate at least $2,000 of his winnings to THON, the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, which benefits children impacted by childhood cancer. His parents have agreed to match whatever amount he donates.

In a statement relayed by his father, Mike Long, a Penns Valley High School teacher, Kieran said he hopes to win to show that children who are neurodivergent or twice exceptional — gifted but with learning differences — can achieve their goals.

“Even kids who have ADHD can be successful,” he said.

With enough community support, Long will advance to the finals on Thursday, May 14.

Community members can support Kieran by casting one free vote every 24 hours or by donating through the contest website, where proceeds benefit The Planetary Society and its mission to advance space science and exploration.

To vote, visit https://americasfavstudent.org/2026/kieran-10.

“This type of money would allow Kieran to explore all options in his educational future. It could help with travel when looking into schools he really wants to consider, and just having help with books and supplies would be something this could go toward,” his parents said. “To put that somewhere to be available to him in the future is a game changer.”