05/18/2026
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We are so excited to spotlight this year’s recital host, Shay O’Connor!
A proud New Orleans native, Shay grew up Uptown and attended Eleanor McMain High School, where her school spirit and love for her community led to her being crowned Homecoming Queen shortly after Hurricane Katrina.
Shay later attended Xavier University of Louisiana, majoring in Mass Communications. During her time there, she wrote for the Xavier Herald and interned at several local television stations, further developing her passion for journalism and storytelling.
After graduating, Shay began her career in production and as a fill-in traffic reporter before landing her first official on-air role at WJTV 12 News in Jackson, Mississippi, where she became weekend morning anchor and morning reporter.
Throughout her career, Shay has covered countless impactful stories and earned recognition for her dedication to giving a voice to the community. Since returning home to New Orleans, she has continued breaking major stories across Southeast Louisiana and building meaningful connections throughout the city.
Beyond journalism, Shay is passionate about mentoring youth, supporting local organizations, and pouring back into the community that helped shape her. She recently earned her first Emmy for coverage of the Orleans Parish jailbreak and continues inspiring others through her work and her latest project, SEAUX New Orleans.
We are honored to have Shay O’Connor joining us for this year’s recital! ✨
Let’s show her some love in the comments below ❤️
