OUTSTANDING

Outstanding fifth, eighth and 12th grade students from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux were recently chosen to represent their schools as 2023 Catholic School Students of the Year.

The Louisiana Catholic School Students of the Year program is open to students attending all Louisiana Catholic schools in each of the respective grades, 5, 8 and 12, that meet the criteria for eligibility. The program is designed to recognize outstanding students who have demonstrated excellence in discipleship, leadership, service, citizenship and academic achievement.

“In the past, students in our Catholic schools competed with students from any state accredited nonpublic school within our designated region, such as other Christian and charter schools. This year Catholic school superintendents across the state met and unanimously agreed to begin a Catholic Schools Student of the Year Competition due to the challenges faced with regional revisions,” explains Gerrie Byrne, diocesan associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “The proposal was brought to the State Superintendent, Dr. Cade Brumley, who agreed to support this change. As a result, Catholic school students will compete against other Catholic school students, allowing us to add a focus on discipleship which is a mission of our schools. The state winners will be recognized by BESE.”

Three candidates from the Catholic schools in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux were selected to compete at the regional level: Fifth grader, Eleanor Straney, St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School, Thibodaux; eighth grader, Olivia Richard, St. Mary’s Nativity School, Raceland; and 12th grader, Katie Ross, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma. Winners at the regional level go on to participate in the state competition in Lafayette.

In addition to the candidates selected to compete at the regional level, students selected to represent their school in diocesan competition are as follows.

Fifth Graders

Iyron Cheramie, Holy Rosary Catholic School, Larose; Camryn Falgout, St. Mary’s Nativity School, Raceland; Noah Gaudet, St. Genevieve Catholic School, Thibodaux; Lily LeBoeuf, St. Bernadette Catholic School, Houma; Khloe Pellegrin, St. Gregory Catholic School, Houma; Bryn Showalter, St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School, Houma; Mason Wisdom, Central Catholic School, Morgan City.

Eighth Graders

Marijain Burns, Holy Rosary Catholic School; Grace Champagne, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma; Abigail Clements, Central Catholic School; Mary Elizabeth Danos, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux.