Seniors receive excellence awards

Annual ceremony recognizes academic accomplishments
Members of the Class of 2018 at LSMSA were recognized with excellence awards during the 34th annual senior recognition program held Friday, May 18, in the A.A. Fredericks auditorium located on the campus of Northwestern State University.

“Tonight we honor students in a variety of ways – celebrating their academic achievements, their creative gifts, their athletic abilities, their service to the school,” said Dave Andersen, math instructor and master of ceremonies for the senior recognition ceremony. “If a student is noted for excellence in an academic area, then he or she has impressed not just a single faculty member, but the entire department with his or her thoughtfulness, hard work and dedication to the discipline.”

The LSMSA Excellence Awards are presented to seniors who have demonstrated excellence in the category or discipline indicated and are selected by the faculty or staff representing their own criteria. For their achievement, students received an LSMSA medallion for each discipline in which they are recognized.

“When we, as faculty, staff, and administrators offer these medals of excellence, we want you to know that we are proud of your contributions to this place, proud of your work and of your drive, proud of your gifts and of your service. We offer these medals in recognition of and in gratitude for the time you have spent with us here,” said Andersen.

One of the LSMSA traditions is for each academic department to select a graduating senior to march in front of the department and carry the Gonfalon, or flag, for that department during the graduation procession. Department chairs introduced their Gonfaloniere at the conclusion of their excellence announcements.

The Gonfalonieres were Edouard Ferrell of Natchitoches, Creative and Performing Arts; Jacob Lonon of Athens, Humanities; Emilyann St Blanc of Franklin, Languages; Albert Chen of Natchitoches, Math and Computer Science; and Ruby Kharod of Opelousas, Sciences.

Acadia Parish – Chelsea Franklin of Crowley, English; and Olivia Gotte of Iota, Science
Allen Parish – Gabriella Papillion of Oberlin, Spanish II
Ascension Parish – Hannah Buras of Prairieville, English; Olivia LaCour of Saint Amant, Visual Arts; and Jaci Templet of Gonzales, English, History and Residential Life
Beauregard Parish – Emma Millisor of DeRidder, Visual Arts
Bossier Parish – Ashleigh Gaude of Bossier City, Visual Arts
Caddo Parish – Emma Simpson of Shreveport, English
Calcasieu Parish – Abby Pace of Iowa, Instrumental Music, Spanish II, English, Folio, Math and Science; Allie Schleter of Lake Charles, Spanish III; and Jakob Shimer of Lake Charles, Sports Education
Claiborne Parish – Hayden Fanning of Haynesville, Residential Life; and Jacob Lonon of Athens, English and History
Concordia Parish – Kaitlyn Randall of Vidalia, English
DeSoto Parish – Scott Blazer of Grand Cane, Computer Science and Science; Caitlyn Morrison of Gloster, Theater and History; and Milla Reddick of Grand Cane, Latin, English, History and Math
East Baton Rouge Parish – Claire Lucas of Baton Rouge, English and History; Hannah Miller of Baton Rouge, French IV; James Rawls of Baton Rouge, Visual Arts and Sports Education; and Emma Shupe, Science
Grant Parish – Alena Noakes of Dry Prong, English
Iberia Parish – Xavier Banks of New Iberia, Sports Education; and Makayla Dupre of Jeanerette, Visual Arts
Jefferson Parish – Alvaro Carvajal of Jefferson, Visual Arts and Sports Education; and Grayce Mores of Harvey, Science
Jefferson Davis Parish – Marcus Shallow of Elton, History and Science
Lafayette Parish – Julian Hunter of Lafayette, Instrumental Music; Kevin Pan of Lafayette, Piano, Math and Computer Science; and Lauren Rains of Youngsville, Sports Education
Livingston Parish – Garett Byrne of Walker, Instrumental Music, Music Theory, Chorale and Private Voice; Haley Kastner of Denham Springs, Visual Arts and English; Charlie Roppolo of Denham Springs, Chorale; and Presley Simmons of Walker, Spanish IV and Science
Natchitoches Parish – Albert Chen of Natchitoches, Math and Computer Science; Edouard Ferrell of Natchitoches, Dance; LiZhang Matuschka of Natchitoches, Sports Education; Hailey McKie of Natchitoches, Computer Science; Reed Middendorf of Natchitoches, Visual Arts and Science; Bryce Moulton of Natchitoches, History and Science; Tomas Parker of Natchitoches, Computer Science; Jake Stultz of Natchitoches, Sports Education; and Russ Stultz of Natchitoches, Math and Sports Education
Ouachita Parish – Santhosh Bomminani of West Monroe, Computer Science; Kerry Doyle of Eros, Science; Clara Kolterman, Instrumental Music, Math and Science; and Emmanuel Perez of Monroe, Spanish IV, Math and Science’
Plaquemines Parish – Dennis Keo of Buras, Sports Education
Rapides Parish – Amy Liu of Alexandria, Spanish III and Science; and Grace Wells of Ball, Visual Arts
St. Bernard Parish – Emma Miller of Meraux, Chorale
St. John the Baptist Parish – Caitlin Foster of LaPlace, Theater; and Ariel Johnson of LaPlace, Visual Arts and Sports Education
St. Landry Parish – Layna Auzenne of Opelousas, English; and Ruby Kharod of Opelousas, French III, English, History and Science
St. Mary Parish – Molly Gonsoulin of Franklin, Visual Arts; Bryson Landry of Franklin, Science; and Emilyann St Blanc of Franklin, French I and Chinese
St. Tammany Parish – Tyler Branch of Slidell, Visual Arts; Angela Fang of Mandeville, Piano and Science; Samantha Hernandez of Slidell, Sports Education; Hannah Rice of Mandeville, Music Theory, Chorale, Private Voice, Piano and English; and Sofia Rivera of Covington, Arabic, English and History
Terrebonne Parish – Kathy Barrios of Houma, Instrumental Music, Chorale, Private Voice, French II and History; Jacob Burton of Houma, Sports Education; and Sarah Green of Houma, Math and Science
Vermillion Parish – Alexis Parsons of Maurice, History and Science
Vernon Parish – Jerry Chen of New Llano, Math and Science; Shakil Karmali of Leesville, Math; and Kiara Padilla of Fort Polk, Visual Arts
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