Melania Trump invites Austin 10-year-old Everest Nevraumont to attend 2026 State of the Union address

An Austin student is set to appear in the First Lady’s box during the president’s speech

First Lady Melania Trump has invited an Austin fifth grader, 10-year-old Everest Nevraumont, to attend the 2026 State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., where she is expected to sit in the First Lady’s box during President Donald Trump’s remarks on February 24, 2026.

The invitation places a local student on a national stage that presidents and first ladies have long used to highlight policy themes through invited guests. In this case, the White House framed Nevraumont’s attendance around technology in education, alongside a second invited guest whose work centers on foster youth.

Who is Everest Nevraumont?

Nevraumont is a student at Alpha School in Austin, a private school that promotes an AI-supported, personalized learning model. The White House described her as a public speaker and an advocate for artificial intelligence in education. It also stated that she is a three-time Texas state champion in history, has competed in the International History Bowl as part of a winning team, and has delivered a TEDx talk discussing how she uses AI in learning.

Her selection underscores how AI—both as a classroom tool and as a broader national competitiveness issue—has become increasingly prominent in federal education messaging. It also reflects a growing public debate over how schools should integrate AI systems while ensuring academic integrity, data privacy, and equitable access.

The other guest: a foster care advocate

Also invited to sit with the First Lady is Sierra A. Burns, 24, of Greenville, South Carolina. The White House said Burns experienced the foster-care system firsthand and later became an advocate for children in foster care. It identified her as a recipient of the Foster Youth to Independence Program and said she has testified in support of extending foster care in South Carolina.

How the White House connects the guests to policy priorities

The White House linked the two guests to initiatives it described as part of the First Lady’s children-focused agenda, including efforts tied to foster youth support and AI-related education programming. It said Mrs. Trump backed an executive order connected to a foster youth initiative, cited $30 million in funding for foster youth housing, and described an AI-focused student challenge and a large K–12 workshop involving schools nationwide.

• Local representation: Nevraumont brings Austin into a nationally televised address watched by millions.
• Policy signaling: The invitations emphasize two themes the White House highlighted—technology in learning and support for young people transitioning from foster care.
• National context: State of the Union guest lists are commonly used to personify legislative and executive priorities in concrete, individual stories.

The State of the Union address typically serves both as a constitutional update to Congress and as a high-visibility venue for illustrating priorities through invited guests.

The appearance of an Austin student in the First Lady’s box is expected to draw attention locally, particularly as schools and families navigate new questions about when and how AI should be used in everyday learning.