Three St. Charles Parish Public School students were named as district Students of the Year last Thursday (Dec. 3), advancing them to regional competition and possibly the national level.
Anais Chavez, fifth-grader at Ethel Schoeffner Elementary School; Kaitlyn Thompson, eighth-grader at Harry Hurst Middle School, and Cole Grieshop, senior at Destrehan High School were named as district winners.
Superintendent Felicia Gomez-Walker honored this year’s Students of the Year at the AMC Elmwood Palace 20 in Harahan.
School winners also were recognized at the Students of the Year Premier, including: Elementary school winners: Aidan Hidalgo, Lakewood Elementary School; Caroline Rome, Norco Elementary School; Aidan Sea, R.J. Vial Elementary School; Asiyah Strickland, Luling Elementary School, and Joshua Walther, St. Rose Elementary School.
Middle school winners announced were: Sam Buhler, R.K. Smith Middle School; Remi Mato, J.B. Martin Middle School; Lauren Shavor, Albert Cammon Middle School, and Kaitlyn Thompson, Harry Hurst Middle School.
High-school Student of the Year Savannah Whitney, Hahnville High School, also was recognized.
The students were chosen based on excellent academic achievement, leadership ability and citizenship.
Gomez-Walker said the presentation reminded her of prestigious awards like the Academy Awards or Oscars given to those who excel in their field of movie production and acting.
“Likewise, tonight we celebrate students who have been selected as some of the best and brightest in the St. Charles Parish Public School System,” she said. “I suppose we can name the awards they received as ‘Charlies.’”
Each one of these students has their own award-winning story “that lays the foundation for their success in the future. We look forward to your sequels.” Gomez-Walker said. She also acknowledged “an award-winning cast” of family members, teachers and administrators who helped make their stories possible.
“You help them build their visions for the future,” she said. “Here’s a suggestion to the students of the year – join me in thanking those people in your lives who have given you gifts of love, wisdom and encouragement.”
Rachel Allemand, an assistant superintendent for St. Charles Parish Public Schools, said the program is designed to recognize outstanding elementary, middle and high school students.
Acknowledging the students as “the best of the best,” Allemand said the state allows only one fifth-grader, one eighth-grader and one 12th-grader from each parish to advance to the regional competition.
To be selected as a student of the year, a student must earn a cumulative 3.5 grade point average and be in grade 5, 8 or 12. All students of the year must compile a portfolio, write a biographical sketch and be interviewed by a Student Achievement Committee. This committee has the responsibility of selecting the parish level winners. Individuals serving on this year’s committee are Teachers of the Year – Sandra McCullough, Gerry Nugent and Dixie Todaro; Community representatives – Gerard Borne of Norco Manufacturing Complex, John Dias of the United Way of St. Charles and Anthony DiGerolamo of Ochsner/St. Charles Parish Hospital; and School System Representative – Jerry Smith, administrator of Student Services.
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