Yoga is believed to have started with the dawn of time. Its origin is essentially discipline based focused on encouraging mental and physical well-being. It unites breath, body and mind.
In our fast-paced lifestyles of today, who doesn’t need something that will help us slow our systems down to a healthy pace?
Blue Sky Yoga offers a variety of classes for people of all ages and abilities seven days a week in both their Ruston and Monroe locations.
Too busy? Well don’t let that be an excuse as Blue Sky Yoga offers zoom classes as well as virtual recorded classes.
Strength – Yoga postures encourage the balance of having equal parts of strength and flexibility so that optimum movement can occur. The weight of your body will be used to increase strength.
Flexibility – Yoga postures help to increase flexibility and mobility through proper alignment, and movement within practice.
Weight loss — Yoga is about being very aware of breath and body. This practice of awareness often helps us become more mindful of when and why we overeat. Awareness of what triggers us is the first step to making lifestyle changes.
Restorative/ relaxation in yoga and weight loss. When we take time to practice regular relaxation the body will produce less cortisol (a stress hormone that increases blood sugar) which is one of the culprits of weight gain around the midsection.
There is a great emphasis on breath in the classes at Blue Sky Yoga. When we commit to keeping our breath slow, steady, and controlled, there is more awareness given to working each posture to the degree that is healthy for each. If the intensity becomes too forceful, the breath control will be diminished.
The breath techniques that are taught and practiced within the classes are helpful to calm the physical body and nervous system. When the body spends ample time with the parasympathetic nervous system activated, digestion function is better, the immune system is strengthened, and healing processes within the body work efficiently. It also benefits lessening stress and anxiety.
The physical postures that are practiced move the spine through a range of motions that help maintain mobility. The muscles along the spine are strengthened and lengthened. With regular and mindful practice yoga helps reduce back pain and increase range of motion. Many postures focus on strength and mobility of hips and legs.
Stability work is within all classes that include standing postures. Stability work is taught in a safe way, with use of props as needed. Engaging muscles in various ways is taught through verbal cues, as well as alignment of the postures, to support stability work.
What are some examples of classes that are taught at Blue Sky Yoga?
The Yoga for Life class is a great class that allows for control of intensity with the use of props. A chair is used if want greater control of stability and intensity or the individual can choose not to use the chair if they want added intensity. This class covers stability, mobility, strength, and flexibility.
Yin is another great class for everyone. For the runner wanting to ease tight hamstrings and hips, or for the individual that works at a desk all day and has tension in the low body and upper back. Yin is a quiet, contemplative practice that targets deep connective tissue, joints, ligaments, and fascia networks. This is accomplished by stretches that are held gently for longer periods of time.
Flow is a more intense class that incorporates controlled breathing, mobility, stability, flexibility and strength.
Chair Cardio is a treat of a class. Dianne Maroney Grigsby will lead you through a fun cardio workout, while seated. The movements will challenge coordination, and mobility.
Orville Schroeder June 13, 1938 – March 18, 2023 Visitation: Friday, March 24, 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Graveside Service: Friday, March 24, 2023, 2:30 PM. New Hope Cemetery. 292 New Hope Road, Choudrant
Reverend Henry Island Died: Sunday 03/12/2023 Visitation: Saturday 03/25/2023 11:00am to 1:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/25/2023 1:00pm, New Rocky Valley Baptist Church, 2155 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Grambling Interment: Saturday 03/25/2023 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Thuyen Do December 10, 1968 – March 16, 2023 Services pending
Charles Wayne Terry October 8, 1966 – March 16, 2023 Visitation: First Baptist Church, Ruston, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Service: First Baptist Church, Ruston, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 2:00 pm
Ruston native Max Causey (right) has “dialogue” with Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor during a game this season. (Courtesy Photo)
By Malcolm Butler
Late in the fourth quarter of a Sunday afternoon NFL game this year, Ruston native Max Causey jogged over to the sideline to have a conversation with an unnamed head coach of one of the league’s 32 teams.
Causey, in his first year as an NFL down judge, had just thrown a flag for a holding penalty that negated what appeared to be the go-ahead score. The infraction forced the team to kick a field goal instead of taking the lead.
So, during the TV timeout, he wanted to have a conversation with the coach.
“My dad was a coach,” said Causey, a former Louisiana Tech quarterback two decades ago. “My granddad was a coach. I know how coaches are. I truly appreciate the position that they are in. I am sensitive to that, but I also have a job to do as an official. I want to have conversations with coaches about what I saw. I want it to be an open dialogue.”
According to Causey, the conversation wasn’t the calmest with a highly upset coach, but he feels it’s the best way to handle such moments.
“I get that they are mad and angry but when it’s appropriate and I have time, I want to go to them and tell them what I saw,” said Causey. “I want them to tell me what they saw. If they express what they saw to me … a lot of times I will say, ‘If that’s what happened then I missed the call, but here is what I saw.’
“So, in this particular situation I threw the flag. They get pushed back and instead kick a field goal. So, it’s a score but not the go-ahead score. I went over to the coach during the TV break knowing he was going to be upset with me. But I wanted to share with him what I saw, and why I threw the flag.”
Oh, the life of an NFL referee.
It was an agree-to-disagree moment for the two parties, something that is common during the course of an NFL season.
Causey, who is the grandson of Tech legendary coach Maxie Lambright and the son of the late Bulldog assistant coach John Causey, has grown up around the sport his entire life. And this year was a dream come true for him – his first as part of an NFL referee crew.
“It was something that I have been working towards for a long time that became a goal 10 years ago,” said Causey. “It was so far away at that point of time. And admittedly so many things had to happen along the way that were totally out of my control. But out of what I could control, I was definitely pursuing it and working hard for it and putting myself in a position to have a chance. To get to be a participant in the on-field experience of an NFL game is a really neat thing.”
Causey’s debut was on Sunday night in the opening weekend of the year when Tampa Bay traveled to Jerry’s World to take on the Dallas Cowboys. His first NFL game and before a national television audience featuring arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of the game in Tom Brady against one of the most storied franchises in league history.
What was that very moment like?
“About 15 seconds before (kickoff) my referee gets on the radio that I can hear (in my earpiece) and says, ‘Hey Max. Welcome to the NFL,’” said Causey. “I was probably too focused to appreciate it at that moment, but looking back afterwards was something I appreciated for sure.”
Causey, who earned his stripes – literally – calling high school and then college football games – moving up the ranks from Conference USA to the Pac-12, said the moments throughout his first season were so good that he journals them.
“I have lots of stories,” said Causey who said the first penalty he threw was a false start in that Week 1 Sunday night game. “I like to keep the diary to keep track of it. I’ve always done a game breakdown as far as the calls, positioning and mechanics so I can do better. I did that this year. But I was also encouraged to enjoy the experience, so I keep a diary where I kept track of cool stories.”
Such as?
“I’m walking the field in San Francisco before the game and Jerry Rice is right there,” said Causey. “He shakes my hand. His hand swallowed my hand by the way. That was really cool.”
Coincidentally enough, Max’s dad John coached against Rice his senior year at Mississippi Valley when Louisiana Tech defeated the SWAC school 66-19 in the first round of the Division IAA playoffs at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston – the same field Max played on as a collegiate student-athletes. Small world.
Causey is the down judge on his crew. He lines up along the sideline on the line of scrimmage. His Sundays consist of living by one of the two teams throughout the four quarters.
An eye-opening, well probably more like ear-opening, way to spend a Sunday.
Although he said he doesn’t remember experiencing a moment of overwhelming nervousness or reality, he does remember what he would consider the moment of arrival.
“I would say the ‘Oh Wow Moment’ was Green Bay versus Buffalo on Monday night. An hour before the game I walked out onto the field. The Bills Mafia was there,” said Causey. “They had had all day to get ready, and the atmosphere was electric. It was Aaron Rodgers-Josh Allen on Monday night. Even my referee came up to me and said, ‘Remember when I said welcome to the NFL back in Dallas? Well, this is your other welcome to the NFL moment.’ So, he was even feeling it as a 13-year veteran.”
As a rookie in the league, Causey said he was pleasantly surprised by several things.
“Number one was the encouragement that I got from my crew,” said Causey. “I wondered stepping into a veteran crew as a rookie how I would be accepted. They were amazing. Very supportive. Never treated me like a rookie. My crew was very concerned and interested in my experience. They wanted it to be good for me. Just the supportive nature of that made it an amazing season.
“I was also surprised how respectful the coaches are in the league. You feel like it’s a fraternity even though you are on the dark side so to speak. You feel like we are all in this together. The coaches were super respectful.”
Well, at least when they weren’t questioning a call.
So, what was the biggest adjustment from the college game to the NFL?
“Intuitively, you know the guys are bigger, faster, stronger, right?” said Causey. “But it didn’t really jump out at me. The speed of the Pac-12 was difficult to officiate just like it’s difficult in the NFL. So from that standpoint, I don’t think it’s any different. Fans are fans in college and in the pros so I don’t think that really changed.
“But it’s definitely a higher level of football. And there is more expected of us as officials. And there is a higher standard for everybody. That was probably the biggest difference.”
Causey said another difference is how much homework the teams put into knowing the referees as he quickly discovered.
“In one of my games in the early part of the season, I had a coach right before the play was snapped in the middle of the first quarter come up to me and say, ‘Hey Max. I also played college football from 1999 to 2003,’” said Causey. “So, they had done their advanced scouting (on me) and a lot of times they do know our background. That was kind of a wake-up call that this was a different level.”
What about NFL referee-player interactions?
“I like to interact with the players,” said Causey. “I want to work with them. I don’t want there to be any animosity or that type of feeling. I want to work with them and talk to them and help them out.”
An example?
“There was a play in Seattle,” said Causey. “Linebacker made a play on the running back. Pushed him out of bounds.
“Right after the play he started running towards that running back. So, I felt I needed to go be a presence between those two players. I got there and the linebacker was laughing and said, ‘Don’t worry about it. We were college teammates. It’s all good.’ He and I had a good laugh about that.”
With Year No. 1 in the books for Causey, he said there is plenty of off-season work for him to do and a system in place to help him do it. NFL referees participate in a virtual one-day spring clinic in June and then OTA assignments. Causey will also participate in a 2-day clinic in July prior to training camp starting.
But much of the homework starts at home.
“A lot of self study,” said Causey, who said the NFL provides a video system where he can watch every play of every game. “I can break it up by call. By my calls. I can see every snap of every game. I’ve already started doing some of that. Then rules study. Just continuing to improve there to get a full knowledge of all the intricacies of all the rules. Practice tests. Things like that.”
Year two is right around the corner for Causey and Co. And he wants to make sure its even better than the first.
“I’m competitive,” he said. “I know that mistakes happen, but I want to learn from my mistakes. I’m very driven to continuously improve, and it really never stops. The great officials are prepared for anything. For me it goes back to film study and mental preparation … visualizing as many situations as possible to understand how I would react if certain things happen on the field within my area of responsibility.”
A Quitman man was arrested in the Northern Louisiana Medical Center emergency room Saturday night after he allegedly caused a disturbance and threatened the staff.
Responding Ruston Police officers were told Shawn Ethan Barr, 27, had cursed and yelled threats of violence at staff and then punched the nurse’s station window, breaking the glass.
Officers escorted Barr outside where he said he was not going to comply with officers and began to flex and pull away. He was placed in restraints as he continued to make threats about what he would do to the officers.
Barr was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he continued to make threats of violence.
While waiting to be booked, Barr reportedly punched another window and broke the glass.
Bar was booked for eight counts of assault on emergency room personnel, three counts of public intimidation, disturbing the peace, resisting an officer, and simple criminal damage to property.
Bail was set at $126,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Even small transformer boxes with bright, colorful murals can help transform the ambiance of Downtown Ruston.
Ruston Cultural District is calling for artists in Lincoln Parish for help with its newest mini-mural project.The project will choose four different local artists to each paint a transformer box located throughout downtown Ruston.
All expenses and material are provided by funding from the Louisiana State Cultural Districts Implementation Grant.
Amy Stegall, community coordinator, highlighted the importance of the project for Ruston.
“Ruston is a place for nonprofits to incorporate and celebrate our culture through visual, performing, literary and culinary arts along with folklife,” said Stegall. “We want to focus on bringing those pillars to the district.”
Each artist will be given given freedom on the art he or she wishes to submit.
“The coolest part of the project is the opportunity to find unexpected ways to come across art,” said Stegall.
Art submissions must be received by 5 p.m. April 10. With a quick turnaround, the winners will be announced the following April 14.
Dylan Sanders, board member of the Ruston Cultural District, outlined the reason for utilizing the grant to create the project.
“Our goal is to get some beautiful pieces of artwork while supporting local artists,” said Sanders. “We will be working with the chosen artists to take their designs and enhance them and make them become a reality.”
The winning artists will receive $400 in supply credit that can be used at Creative Exchange. Once the project is completed, they will receive an additional $775 stipend.
Jessica Slaughter, board member of the Ruston Cultural District, spoke about the need for compensating the artists.
“I think so many times people ask artists to do things for free. It’s something they worked really hard at, studied for and practiced,” said Slaughter. “We wanted to pay them as they needed to be.”
The project is expected to complete and be displayed May 27 as part of the Ruston Art Encounter. The event will be open to the public to view the murals.
“Transformer boxes are such an unsightly but necessary part of life. We really want this to be another way to show that creative expression and to take something that normally is an eyesore, and turn it into something beautiful,” said Slaughter.
Larry Cordaro has left the LSU-Alexandria basketball program after nine seasons. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Ruston High School alumnus Larry Cordaro has spent the past nine seasons relishing in the success of his first head-coaching stint at LSU-Alexandria.
But on Monday, Cordaro shifted into a bit of football mode in calling an audible, or a baseball throwing a change-up curveball, as he announced via social media that he will not return as head coach of the Generals next season.
That came after LSU of Alexandria’s Director of Athletics Tyler Unsicker announced that Cordaro will not return as head coach of the Generals.
Cordaro was the first head coach in LSUA men’s basketball history, leading them to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship game in 2017 and compiling an overall record of 224-50, going 107-10 at home and leading them to eight NAIA National Tournaments.
Simply put, Cordaro said he realized the time was right for a change.
“I was checking the same boxes off year after year at LSUA,” Cordaro said. “I just felt like it was time for me to learn from somebody else. Take a different class.
“It’s just time for a change. Time to let somebody else put their footprint on this program and give a young guy or somebody else an opportunity. That’s what I’mI hoping to do myself.
Cordaro made this announcement on social media Monday morning:
“I’m grateful for my time at LSUA, however, to pursue my ultimate goals, I have decided to not return next season,” Cordaro wrote in that announcement. From taking a program from scratch and building it into a national power, much was accomplished. We created the winningest program in a tradition-rich basketball state while becoming the fastest NAIA program in history to reach 100 victories. To our fans, supporters and students, we could not have done it without you as you have defended The Fort (LSUA’s home floor) with an overall home record of 107-10.”
Other numbers Cordaro built leading the Generals are equally as impressive.
He helped develop seven players into professional athletes, guiding his team to eight national tournament appearances, five regular-season titles, three conference tourney championships, two Final Four appearances while also reaching the NAIA title game once.
Why now? Codaro isn’t as concerned with that as to finding out what his next step will be.
“I don’t know if there’s ever a good time in this business to make a change like this,” Cordaro said. “I’m a spiritual guy and try to listen to the Spirit. I just felt like now is the time to do something different, step out of my comfort zone and to try my body of work, the network that I’ve built over the last 23 seasons coaching college basketball.”
“And I don’t know what that will be yet. I don’t have any birds in the hand right now. There’s probably two or three in the bush that hopefully I can grab. I’ve talked to a lot of coaches today. It’s been a very emotional, humbling day with the number of phone calls and texts I’ve been bombarded with. There are no definite job opportunities yet, but news that I’m now on the market so to speak will help me with that next opportunity because now people know that I’m actually available.”
Cordaro said he’s been close to taking other opportunities in recent years.
“But now it’s kind of like sink or swim,” Cordaro said. “I’m in full pursuit to see who’s next out there for me and what program I can assist or lead.”
Cordaro said he has had a few people ask if he’s getting out of coaching altogether.
“I responded with a one-word message in all caps – NEVER,” Cordaro said. “I hope I get to coach as long as I can stand, walk and see. Coaches change. It’s part of our industry. It’s odd to change after such a successful run, but it’s where we are today and I’m ready to see what next is out there for me.
“It doesn’t have to be a head coach. It doesn’t have to be in state. Change is about growth and that’s what this is for me. I just want to kind of expand my basketball resume, knowledge and expertise. I just came to realize that the time feels right.”
This advertorial has been paid for by the Louisiana Economic Growth Committee. The views below do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishing staff of the Lincoln Parish Journal.
It is a simple fact that many Ruston residents purchase high-quality wine, craft beer and spirits outside city limits. So a major question is, what is the volume of sales and sales tax revenue lost by the City of Ruston and Lincoln Parish?
While the tax rates vary, and can get confusing, it is clear that by any credible estimate, the numbers are substantial on an annual basis. The City of Ruston conservatively estimates it could gain an additional $1.5 million in tax revenue. An independent study performed by economic research and analysis expert Dr. Ray Perryman, based on similar situations in a variety of states, estimates it could be as high as $2.2 million annually.
Some local opponents of the current petition drive in Ruston say the amount would only be $50,000, but they have no study or evidence to support their claim, and it appears that their limited analysis only includes the City of Ruston population, and did not include people from the Parish who come to Ruston to shop or the thousands of people who come to Ruston for college and sports events, musical and cultural entertainment and other activities, or who simply stop in Ruston while driving along Interstate 20.
It is also worth noting that the City of Ruston will not be the only jurisdiction to benefit from expanding alcohol sales locally. The Lincoln Parish School District, for example, would receive additional monies that would help fund teachers 13 th and 14 th paychecks each year. The Parish Police Jury and Sheriff’s Department would also benefit from revenue that is currently leaving the Parish. Overall, research indicates that Lincoln Parish jurisdictions could gain as much as $4 million every year in additional tax revenue.
One thing is clear: Sales and tax revenues that could benefit the City of Ruston and Lincoln Parish are lost every single day. But with the pending vote to allow increased alcohol sales in our community under very carefully created limitations – the strictest such limitations in the state – Ruston has the opportunity to keep an additional $1.5 million to $2.2 million in revenues in the City and the Parish on annual basis. No matter which estimate one uses, that is a bigger piece of the pie than Ruston and the Parish get to keep now.
Vote YES on all 5 Ruston Alcohol Props and keep those monies in Ruston and Lincoln Parish.
This advertorial has been paid for by the Louisiana Economic Growth Committee. Go to http://www.LouisianaEGC.org for more information.
Notice: Just one winner of the $1,000.00. The Rules can change without notice. The contest can be canceled without notice to participants. Not responsible for any technical failures. All decisions by Management are final. If you have any questions or feedback, please send an email to: LPJNewsLa@gmail.com
Raytez Elliott has been a behavior interventionist at Glen View Elementary for more than five years. Elliott was born and raised in Ruston and graduated from Ruston High School in 2010.
After high school, Elliott enrolled briefly at Louisiana Tech University where he was studying art. Elliott soon decided he could teach himself how to do the types of art and design he was interested in, so he left Louisiana Tech and went on to earn an associate’s degree in business administration from Louisiana Delta Community College.
Elliott continues to use his creativity and design skills in making logos and t-shirt designs for family functions, friends, and schools in our district, such as Ruston High. Elliott has also continued to pursue a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and attends classes at Grambling State University when he has the funds to do so.
He has about three semesters left to complete his degree and then plans to complete an alternative teacher certification program. Afterwards, Elliott would love to teach history or geography.
Although Elliott is now passionate about working with kids, he never dreamed this would be his calling. Elliott’s first experience working with kids came when his former high school football coach, Billy Laird, reached out to him to ask that he consider coaching. At the time, Laird was athletic director, and Elliott said he liked to reach out to his former players when he could.
After two years of turning down Coach Laird’s offers, Elliott finally accepted and agreed to coach junior high football. “That started everything,” Elliott said.
Elliott has now gained experience working with kids not only as a coach but also at the Boys and Girls Club, the Methodist Children’s Home, and now at Glen View Elementary. In fact, Elliott continues to work at the Methodist Children’s home every day after working at Glen View.
As a behavior interventionist, Elliott is skilled at getting kids who are very upset back to their baseline. Some kids are volatile. Maybe they’re tired or hyperactive. Maybe they’re just having a bad day, but sometimes they lash out. Elliott said he’s seen desks turned over and had scissors thrown at him, but he’s good at his job.
Elliott often uses different strategies with different kids, and he is quick to learn what works for them individually. “It’s important to know the kid you’re dealing with,” he said.
“My biggest thing,” he said, “when I see a kid is upset, I’ve learned to give them space. I let them breathe.” Elliot said it’s important to avoid matching the kid’s tone and instead to keep a calm tone. One strategy he uses often is to change the subject to something totally unrelated to get their mind in a different place. Then, after they have calmed down a bit, he can circle back to what caused the problem and start talking about ways to prevent a similar situation from happening again.
Elliott said, “I love that I am able to impact kids’ lives who are from the same community as me. I’ve been through some of the same things that they go through on a daily basis, but I want them to see that there’s hope in the future and just keep going.”
Simsboro sophomore pitcher Hayden Rabo is pictured firing a pitch Monday evening against Jonesboro-Hodge. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Fundamentals are a part of every sport.
Sometimes, sheer instinctive ability can make a player in some sports seem like “a natural.”
But while that kind of ability might be helpful on a basketball court, the theory doesn’t work as well on a baseball field.
So it’s taken the Simsboro Tigers a few years to instill those hardball fundamentals in their young players.
But that work is finally starting to pay off for the Tigers, who methodically chopped away at Class 2A Jonesboro-Hodge for a 12-2 win in five innings Monday evening on the SHS baseball field.
SHS coach Scott Hiers said patience has been the key in his team getting better and better as they’ve continued learning and building the kinds of baseball skills needed to turn them into a regularly-competitive team.
“This hasn’t been a baseball school, so having some of those kids walk out there and finally not be lost – actually knowing what they’re trying to do – is starting to show,” Hiers said. “So generally right now, we have an idea. Whether that always shows or not is another story. But we’re making progress, and that’s all I can really ask for.
The Tigers are off to a 9-5 start on the season and have now won seven of their last eight games after dominating in the win over Jonesboro-Hodge. Simsboro has totaled 12 or more runs in eight of its 14 games and are averaging 10.3 runs per contest.
Hayden Rabo got the win on the mound for Simsboro against Jonesboro-Hodge, which only managed a pair of runs against the sophomore.
Rabo has been even more dominant at the plate and has totaled 11 runs batted in over the last week.
“Hayden is only a sophomore, but he’s also one of those guys who’s been on the team since he was in seventh grade,” Hiers said. “So he’s a great example of those baseball fundamentals finally starting to take hold. Hopefully he’ll keep going that way.
Simsboro led Jonesboro-Hodge 4-0 by the end of the second inning before piling on six more runs in the bottom of the third, with Caleb Coldiron singling in a run, Kendrick Craig pushing across another on a sacrifice hit, Rabo adding another RBI and Hunter Stevens plating two more on a double.
Chris Harrell, Hunter Stevens and Chris Stevens round out Simsboro’s primary pitching rotation although Coldiron has worked himself into the mix, too.
“They all have to be able to do a lot and play multiple positions,” Hiers said. “That’s all part of Class B baseball, but the guys are picking it up more and more as they gain experience.”
Hiers said an emphasis on conditioning is paying off for his Tigers’ efforts at the plate.
“We did a whole lot of full-body work this fall, not necessarily in the weight room but out here on the field –– flipping tires, doing ropes, doing squats and those kinds of things,” Hiers said. “And that hard in the fall has carried over into the spring.
“And next summer we will get them in the weight room and hit that hard, too. But we’re just getting to the point where we can start working on that.”
There’s also been all of the work his Tigers have put in on the basics that have helped result in the recent surge..
“It might not always look like it, but they’ve worked hard on fundamentals and are building more and more understanding about the game every day,” Hiers said. “That’s why I stay on them throughout the games, whether what they did worked out or not. Because sometimes they’ll say that and I have to tell them that no, they still need to do it the right way and do it that way every time, not just because it worked out against somebody you may be better than.
“They’re good kids. They work hard. We’re just still trying to instill those values and that work ethic and stuff that it takes for baseball. You can’t just roll a ball out there and go play a game. We’re working toward building what was a basketball only school into a baseball school, too. And that means slowly changing the culture of the baseball program. And we’re making progress – that’s good to see.”
The picture nestles among 1,974 other photos saved on my cellphone. It’s from May 2022, and almost the entire image is a sea of green. Well, a backyard of green, to be exact – our next-door neighbor’s.
Trunks of tall pines dominate the left side of the photo, with the greenery of crepe myrtles and oaks filling the background. Sunlight dapples the carpet of grass and intermittently spotlights both trunks and leaves.
I frequently forget that this picture even exists, but when I do bring it up for closer inspection as I am deleting from my thousand-plus images, the scene always brings me joy. My plans are for it to remain safely ensconced there as long at my trusty iPhone exists.
So what’s the source of my joy when looking at this picture?
At the edge of the neighbor’s patio – not even visible unless the image is brought to full size – is a pinpoint of hot pink. It’s the only spot in the entire picture that emits a warm color. And every single time I see it, I click to bring it up, just to enlarge that dot.
It’s a pot of begonias – and it speaks to me of hope.
Oh, it’s not that the rest of the landscape doesn’t appear delightfully photo-worthy in and of itself. It does. It’s just that this little dab of color adds something special to the tableau.
That fuchsia spot speaks of springtime, of something that stands out from the rest, of life after winter’s icy grip, of something that is almost pure radiance. It offers something to believe in.
I like to think of life like that. Even if we go along, day to day, existing in a world that can often provide satisfying snapshots, we are missing out on something if we don’t have hope.
By that, I mean hope in general as well as hope in the eternal. Hope that in our day-to-day existence something good will come into our future, even if our current photos might be filled with gray. Hope that, if we believe in Jesus and obey his teachings, not only will life here on Earth be filled with meaning, but that our eternity will be so astounding that we can only imagine its glory.
Does that mean our Earth-bound lives are always a bucketful of carefree happiness and leisure as we experience this hope? Certainly not. Think: the Apostle Paul. Think: the prophet Jeremiah.
Even though Paul went through a list of at least 18 kinds of trials and tribulations – depending on how you count those recorded in II Corinthians 11 – he still uses the word “hope” 54 times in his writings. “Hope” in this sense: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him” – Romans 15:13.
When thinking about Paul’s misfortunes and his responses to them, I also like to consider this post written by a 21st-century Twitter user named Matthew: “People speak of hope as if it is this delicate, ephemeral thing made of whispers and spider’s webs. It’s not. Hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of the cobblestones in her hair, and just spat out a tooth as she rises for another go.”
Indeed.
So … back to my neighbor’s begonias. I looked out the window a day or so ago to see if they were blooming (the things I don’t know about flowers could fill volumes) because I wondered if the freeze might literally nip them in the bud. No sign of color yet, so I was thankful. Then I remembered that my prize photo was taken in May – so there’s still time for my symbol of hope to reappear and thrive.
Meanwhile, I pray for a burst of begonias to brighten your life. I pray that hope will, in fact, spring eternal.
Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
Louisiana Tech University has announced the names of students on its Winter Quarter President’s and Dean’s honor lists.
Students whose names are followed by an asterisk earned recognition as members of the president’s honor list. That distinction signifies achievement of at least a 3.8 academic grade point average on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher), with no grade lower than a B.
To be eligible for the dean’s honor lists, a student is required to earn at least a 3.5 academic grade point average with no grade lower than a C on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher).
Courses yielding satisfactory/failure grades and courses audited do not count toward eligibility for either recognition. Only undergraduates with no incomplete grades are eligible to make either list.
Honor students are listed below by their hometowns, with all Louisiana students listed first by parish.
Louisiana
Acadia
Church Point:Andrew A. Falcon, Adelaide Leigh Jones*, Bryant C. Moore*
Crowley:Login Lane Breaux*, Ashtyne K. Monceaux
Rayne:Ava Dietrich Baudoin, Jack Thomas Himel, Grant Cole Killmer*, Morgan Avery Stokes
Allen
Grant:Dylan Clark Guillory
Kinder:Gabriel Ryan Courville*
Oakdale:Daniel Gerard Davis, Madeline Leann Jarnagin, Christy R. Soileau
Ascension
Geismar:Kaitlyn Marie Cook, Titus Edward Riggins*, Daniel Scott Waguespack*
Gonzales:Alexander M. Lambert*, Emma Rose Lamoureaux*, Brennan Wayne Lonidier, Philip Aidan Moore, Litzy Morales*, Caroline Grace Sanchez, Gavin Michael Soniat, Jacob Michael Stein*, Claudia J. Wilkinson*
Prairieville:Madison S. Beam*, Jonah R. Bourque, Hayden Maurice Cashat, Madison R. Coats, Rylan Walker Coe*, Kylie Elyse Gomez, Colin Beckman Griffin*, Luke Thomas Hazlett*, Thomas Kirsch Hertel*, Ethan Lee Hunt, Jackson Luke Hutchings, Toby Joseph Latino*, Kailee Z. Lavigne, Lillian Mai Nguyen, Kaity C. Ratcliff*, Kaci A. Wright
Prairieville:Noah Matthew Laughlin*
St. Amant:Brady Lane Duplessis*, Seth R. Hillegass, Joseph L. Waguespack
Assumption
Pierre Part:Cole M. Sylvester*
Avoyelles
Bunkie:Lucy Kathleen Clement, Bekah Lynne Naquin*
Center Point:Kennedy Paige Clayton, Madison Nicole Dauzat
Cottonport:Abby Marie Baronne, Graham Michael Rebouche*
Hessmer:Gage Cameron Blood*, Lauren Marie Gauthier*
Marksville:Keteral J. Ducote*, John Philip Sibley*
Moreauville:Emma C. Moreau*
Plaucheville:Emily Ann Dixon*
Beauregard
Deridder:Abigail Anne Cobb*, James Joshua Cole*, Madigan Claire Daughety, Jeremiah R. Eubanks, Taylor E. James*, Travis Jacob Knippers, Austin D. Nietfeld, Hannah Gayle Ray, Lexa A. Thompson*, Madison P. White*, Karalynn Michelle Williams
Arcadia:Christopher Wade Caskey*, Ashley Michelle Christian, Leigh E. Cox, Jakyria Tyasia Gibson, Jace M. Morris*, Kelsey Blair Reed-Dison, Landri F. Thomas*
Castor:Zakiya R. Johnson
Ringgold:Austin Nathaniel Nunn
Saline:Jordan Layne Brown, Skylar M. Hough, Alayna K. Martin*
Taylor:Elizabeth Walker*
Bossier
Barksdale AFB:Gavin Christopher Lerch
Benton:Annabelle Hope Anglin*, Katelynn Renee Arnold*, Jina Jolie Baffuto*, Riley Cole Beck, Andrew Graham Bennett, Brennan Kristopher Blaylock, Alexis Marie Boyd, Gage Brooks, Rachel Marie Carrigan, Kathleen G. Caudle, Crystal M. Conway, Chad Daniel Cook, Connor L. Cox*, Emily Frances Cox*, Emma Catherine Cox*, Emma D. Daniels*, Collin J. Davis, Dalton Seth Diel*, Robert Cloyd Emory, Madison Elise Enfinger, Carlee Ann France, Elizabeth K. Griggs*, Anna G. Harmon*, Ashleigh Grace Hughes*, Abigail Faith Johnson, Izabella Roge’ Johnson, Landon Martin Joyner, Anna Claire Kratzer, Garrett Ashton Lewis, Macy Grace McCullough*, Callie Elizabeth McKay, Luke A. Montgomery*, McKenzie Vaughan Murphy, Olivia Jane Oliphint, Charlotte G. Orr, Madison Ruth Perkins*, Zachary Andrew Roden, Josie Scott Romero, Cameron Ronald Ross, Jacob Alexander Saucier, Hayden Bryce Shankle, Adam Risdon Smith, Sarah Catherine Spohn*, Arabella M. Touchstone, Samantha McCoy Valentine*, Logan Scott Watts, Julie Anne Weems, Aaron P. Wheeler
Bossier City:Emmitt Reese Antwine, Hannah Barney, Sean Lee Bell, Gage Balin Betourne*, Alexis Sierra Black, Kristian Brewster, Zane Coleson Broadway, Kailee Livia Bryant*, Madelyn Reese Campbell*, Trenton William Campbell, Miranda Elizabeth Crabtree*, Joshua Raymond Crews, Cade Alan Deloach*, Devin Keoni Dewitt*, Kenneth James Dickson, Avere Grayson Doles, Sam Dominick, Emilee Autumn Doyle*, Jonah W. Drouillard*, Madalyn D. Eagles*, Caroline Grace Easom, Cameron Alyssa Emory, Paris Annelese Endris, Ethan Trent Ennis*, Angel Mario Espinoza, Zoe Nicole Fairchild*, Jordan Elizabeth Farris, Kate Elizabeth Fortune, Leah Beth Freeman, Seth Independence Gander, Melayna Paige Goodwin*, Nathan Christopher Griffin*, Megan Victoria Grove, Jessica Dayle Grubbs, Caleb Hunter Hemmings, Hanna Elise Heng*, Lauren Elizabeth Henson, Elijah J. Hill*, Nora Elizabeth Hill, Emma Faith Hoffman, Julia Elizabeth Holder, Hayden M. Howard, David Justin Jara*, James Caleb Jeane*, Adam James Johnson*, Jonah McCoy Jones, James C. Kelly, Betsy Grace Kitchens*, Kash H. Landry, Laurel Z. Larramendi, Lauren Elizabeth Lasiter*, Brandon Harvey Latcha*, Cora Ann Latimer*, Ashley Martinez, Margaret Christine McAlister*, Christian Alexander McCoy, Elizabeth Corinne McFerren*, Kaitlyn Kay Medaries, Ben John-Denis Meister*, Christine Meister*, Kara K. Mondello*, Kailey Alyse Mulhearn*, Allison Jean Murphy*, Sashnia Murray*, Tiffani K. Nash*, Madelyn Gail Neuman*, Briannah T. Norman*, Nand Patel*, Jillian Morgan Pease, Harley Brooke Pierce, Benjamin D. Poole, Sonny Martin Reed, Claire Christa Scott, Michael Joseph Shelton, Carson Watkins Slack, Elleigh Camille Smith, Joshua Garrett Sparks, Coleman Hollis Stafford*, Peyton Luke Stafford*, Kennedy Alaine Stevens, Anna Grace Stinson, Andrew Blake Tamburo, Blaine Michael Theodos, Cameron Jackson Thomas*, Logan Bradley Thurman, Nicholas Anthony Tibi, Tanner Jacob Timms, Jayden Rashod Toussaint*, Trenton P. Turner, Gavin G. Vallery, Haley Elaine Vallery, Madeline G. Vascocu*, Richard Garrison Wade, Serenity Nicole Wallace, Andrew James Waxham*, Cullen Robert Weferling*, Kyle Edward Wilson, Hannah Nicole Wooten, Dylan Cainan Baldwin, Jillian Marie Cochran*, Pearce Olivia Davis*, Avery G. Dipboye, Cameron W. Dreher, Madison B. Duddy*, Maximus A. Holt*, Caroline L. Horton, Anna Kate Montgomery, Alona Sue Ray, Brady Jay Sessions*, Samantha Nicole Townsend*, Madison G. West
Elm Grove:Erin Lynn Timm, Jacqueline Kaylie Y’barbo
Haughton:Peyton Elizabeth Adams, Ryleigh Leanne Ainsworth*, Ian T. Armstrong, Destiny Kay Boothe, Jordan Caroline Brothers*, Makyla Marie Cedarleaf, Christopher A. Colello, Solon A. Culver*, Jordan Jo-mae Fick*, Brock Joseph Houston, Kelsey Braden Hughes*, Dillon Holt Johnston, Daniela Desiree Lara, Landry R. Leal*, Keaton Love, Carmen M. McGlasson, Logan M. McGrath, Madeline Kate Milton*, Elizabeth Ann Morgan, Alexander Parker Morris*, Malea Morgan Newell*, Kevin A. Olvera, Jake Pieri, Norman Robert Pritchard*, Riley Megan Runkle, Reese Stetson Seals, Cayden Wayne Shaw, Dustin A. Smith*, Ryker Morrison St. John*, Sage M. Travinski, Sara M. Vaughn*, Kathryn Ella Walker, Shelby L. Watson, Aidan Lee Weinreber, Grace Elaine Willcox*, Makenzi Brieann Williamson
Princeton:Laiden Emanuel Broadway
Caddo
Belcher:Hannah M. Dubois*
Bethany:Logan Dalton McMullen
Gilliam:Ali N. Wilson*
Greenwood:Sydney Lauren Free, Christa Lee, Kelly Ray Walker
Keithville:Grayson Aubrey Cary, Stephenie Lorrell Fuller, Morgan M. Graham*, Savannah Jane Green, Katelyn Gross, Richard Luke Hausgen*, Karlie Kaye Hawkins*, Damiyan Joshua, Ainsley C. Mayo*, Aubrey C. Mayo*, Caitlyn Elizabeth McClure*, Stephen Austin Mikovich*, Anna Elizabeth Milam, Cameron J. White
Mooringsport:James Donald Flores*, Surayya Lynn Jones, Marissa Annette Robertson, Emerson Douglas Statom*
Shreveport:Sarah Kate Adams*, Caleb B. Aillet*, Andrew J. Angelo, Chad Alexander Auchard*, Cordus E. Bailey*, Caroline Grace Barber*, James Wesley Barlow*, James Michael Basco, Cameron Altom Basinger*, Raegan Nicole Bates, Adrianne Kate Baxter, Naima I. Bomani, Kathryn Britt Bowen*, Lindsey-kathryn Albritton Bowen Cameron Paul Bradford*, Ryan Patrick Brandhurst*, Addison Jean-marie Bromley*, Avery Bryan, Grace Leeanna Bryant*, Ava Burch, Ean W. Burch, John Porter Burford, Garett James Butler,Caitlin Elizabeth Byrd, Jared David Callender, Lola Grace Carlisle, Emily Catherine Carr, Genene Emily Carter*, Steven Robert Cassidy*, Garrett Steven Chaisson, Marie E. Chance, Chloe Tenee Chandler, Allen Chen*, Caleb Gibson Clarke*, Tiffany T. Clinton, Adam Lucien Cook*,Jeana Grace Crump, Abigail Olivia Daniel, Sarabeth Davidson*, E’yanna Yvette Davis*, Emilee Claire Davis*, Maria Raquel De Leon, Tefnie Rachael Devers*, Chiara Alaine Digilormo*, Gkeveon Quevon Duncan*, Gracie Lee Dupont*, Riggs Samuel Easterling, Kyle Nicholas Elledge*, Grace L. Ellison, Alexandra Abiya English, Joseph Lance Entrekin, Ryan Andrew Eubanks, Brett A. Ezernack, Jadyn Ross Falls*, Hunter Alexander Fertenbaugh*, Kathryn Claire Fincher, Meredith Dea Fisher*, Paxton O. Florea, Anna E. Flowers, Caden Paul Flowers, Mikenna Lynn Franks*, David Austin Fulgham*, Luke Ryan Fussell, Brianna Sky Gahagan*, Morgan P. Gentry*, Ian Dale Golsby*, Samantha Kay Gould*, Jesse Ethan Granger*, Sirliek Tre’dale Green, Priscilla L. Guo, Greer Arden Handley, Christopher Chase Harner, Mattie Harrington*, Luke Bradley Harris*, Madeline Rae Haynes*, Brayden Christopher Hermes, Anniston Kristine Hidalgo, Noah Allen Hildebrand, Tanner Keith Hines*, Allyson Cathryn Holloway, Jace River Honeycutt, Hannah K. Hughes*, Connor Wayne Hunsicker, Josh Andrew Jackson*, Jonathan Michael Jennings, Thomas Payne Johnson, Samuel M. Johnston, Ariyana Trenyce Jones, Kyla Symone Jones, Jacob T. Jordan, Gabriel Thomas Jose, Noah Perry Jose*, Mackenzie L. Joyce, Madeline F. Kalmbach*, Marshall Thomas Keen*, Mason Carter Kemp, Tantine K. Kendig*, Joseph Michael Kennedy, Benjamin Gene Kevil, Richard J. King, Danielle A. Kropp*, Brian Sawyer Lacoste*, Hannah E. Lafitte*, Emily Clarissa Langley*, Andrew Walker Lattier*, Tyler Lewis Lawhon*, Jordan E. Leblanc, Casey Braylin Lee, Valerie J. Legler*, Courtney N. Luke, Joshua A. Luman*, Reilly Kathleen Majors*, Barro Joubert Massad*, Carson Bradley Massad, Kalli Elise Matlock*, Wyatt Colbert McCollum*, Gabrielle Elise McCrevan, Morgan Suzanne McGuire*, Maggie Elise McMillan, Emma O. Michael*, Arin Grace Miles, Savanna Leigh Mitchell*, Kayleigh Grace Mizzell, Emily Dianne Moffett*, Callie Scout Moore*, Kelsey Ann Morgan, Ainsley Ann Mottet, John Slade Netterville*, Abbygail Grace Nickels, Sutton Patrick Oathout, Kailyn Elise Oliver*, Timothy Christopher Oliver*, Vincent Alexander Peavy, Andrew J. Pernell*, Holland Elizabeth Peterson, Aaron Thomas Phillips, Benjamin A. Ponder*, Nathan Elijah Pons, Mallory Faith Puckett, Matthew Elias Ramsey, Thatcher D. Ray*, Caroline Elizabeth Rockett, Brileigh Paige Rossitter, Brianna Gail Sample, Mason J. Sanchez, Madison E. Self*, Cameron Russell Semon, Jesse Luke Shadburn, John William Shepherd*, Braylen K. Simmons, Bobby R. Simpson*, Slater Gage Simpson*, Christian R. Smith, Madeline Rae Smith, Lilian M. Sobalvarro*, Ashley Lynn Stephens*, Ryleigh Madison Stewart, Jackson Daniel Still*, Gabrielle G. Stimits*, Anna Kate Sullivan*, Carolyne C. Tarver, Trevor Reid Taylor, Kaitlin Elizabeth Terry*, Jacob James Thibodeaux*, Jared Thomas, Paige Avery Thomas, Robidonna Paige Thomas, Grace A. Tichenor, Phillip Connor Tisdale*, Jacob Lee Tobias, Kathryn Grace Tyson*, Paula Dianne Valley*, Patrick Dennis Wade, Riley Claire Walker*, Cooper Douglas Wallace, Luke A. Warlen*, Hailey M. Warshaw, Zachary D. Washington, Emily Diane Watts, Jason Robert Wells, Geoffrey Joseph Westmoreland*, Logan James White, Micah Cameron White, Robert Elliott White, Khloe E. Whittington*, Joshua B. Whitton*, Allie Grace Wolfe, Jeremy Wood, Cooper Deen Wooten, Maxwell Joseph Yerger, David Yuetao Yu*
Lake Charles:Noah Anthony Berryhill, Caroline Anne Broussard, Hannah Lynne Broussard*, Benjamin Keith Burguieres, Grant Alexander Comeaux, Anna Sue Daniel*, Ethan J. Delafose, Eli Thomas Doyle*, William Morgan Evans, Blake Andrew Fagan, Emma-Bernadette A. Faul, Alyson Ruth Galicia*, Jerren Makai Gilbert, Brendan Edward Guillory*, Ethan Autry Hebert*, Jobe A. Hebert, Zoe Catherine Hennigan, McKinna R. Hitefield, Bronson P. Jordan, Alexander J. Joubert, Nikolai Aleksander Karpovs*, Aliya Mudar Kattash*, Stephen R. Kershaw, Christi Kruger*, Katherine Elisabeth Lavin*, Abigail Michelle Lechtenberg*, Amelia Anne Loewer*, Sydney Camille Manuel*, Carly Elizabeth Osburn, Elijah L. Palmer*, Jace Tanner Peloquin*, Colby Alan Piatt, Haddie Poole*, John Anthony Reina*, Kaley Dean Savant, Morgan M. Shaw, Hanna M. Sims*, Josie M. Smith*, Josephine Leigh St. Dizier, Jake Thomas Touchet*
Sulphur:Madison C. Barnes, Elizabeth A. Everett*, Samuel R. Klenke, William Robert Midkiff, Christopher Paul Perry*, Emily Ann Petross, Jordan S. Savoie*, Kara Jessica Stegall*, Skylee Bryn Warner*
Vinton:Zachariah G. Bleichroth, Ryson J. Shelton*
Westlake:Sophie Grace Gibbs*, Faith A. Jordan
Caldwell
Grayson:Michael Tanner Morgan*
Catahoula
Harrisonburg:Julia Katherine Borne, Nathanial J. Goldstein
Jonesville:Ethan Albert Clark
Claiborne
Athens:Benjamin C. Corley*
Haynesville:Ethan Laine Coker*
Homer:Peyton Alexander Benefield*, Aubrie A. Dickson*, Hanna Kathryn Morgan, Amanda Gray Sanders*, Bishop Wayne Taylor, Landon Kade Verdin, Analese D. Wagg*
Concordia
Ferriday:Chloe M. Smith
Monterey:Wesley W. Brown*, Ian T. Dryg, Maggie Lanehart Gray*
Vidalia:Kathey Jade Brixey*, Roderick Ray Ransom
DeSoto
Gloster:Aciah Ole Smith*
Grand Cane:Claire Elise Headrick
Keatchie:Sydney Alyse Latham, Lauren Grace Niten*
Logansport:Paden K. Deas, Jenna L. Hall
Mansfield:Marcus Lazell Bryant
Stonewall:Mallory E. Bogues, Caden Harrison Britt*, Landry K. Burback*, Rachael L. Coker*, Draydin C. Ferguson*, Kathryn Mackenzie Graner*, Avery Reed Murphy, Lael Christine Penner*, Natalie Marie Pierce, Bonnie Leeann Smith
East Baton Rouge
Baker:Anthony Montral Palmer*
Baton Rouge:Landace L. Abshire*, William Barrow Alexander, Hannah N. Arcement*, Emma K. Authement, Ella G. Bollinger, Harrison James Breland-Triche, Joy Marie Brown, Macy Paige Bush, Nathan Andrew Bush, Mallory Grace Caro*, Madison C. Cefalu*, Anna G. Chapman*, Nolan Paul Courville*, Abigail Elizabeth Crowe, Jackson H. Dammers, Madeline Delaine De Vries*, Aaron Robert Dougherty*, Sophie Ann Edwards, Jacob Christopher Elliott*, Connor Jeffrey Faucheaux*, Brandon Ross Franks*, Ryann Raylette Hamilton*, Charlotte E. Harvey, Alexander James Henderson, Henlee Grace Hoffer, Michael Edwin Holmes, Reno D. Johnson, Grant Michael Kisner, Braydan Isiah Lafleur, Cameron James Leblanc, Hailey Marie Malik*, Mahalie B. Matassa*, Kameron T. McKnight, Holden Charles Mittendorf, Jayda A. Naron, Austin Grey Newsom, Erin E. Oehrle, Katherine A. Oehrle*, Daniel Hilliard Petty*, Walter Hayden Phillips*, Whitley G. Procell, Rebecca Leeann Quebedeaux, Christina M. Simino, Kirsten A. Smith, Lydia Kaylee Soileau, Alexander Pascal St. Cyr, Adele Grace Talbot*, Aaron J. Taliaferro*, Justin Taliaferro*, Kathryn Claire Thibodaux*, Payton G. Turner*, Blake Ann Volland, Brodie James Volland, Jannie Tamia Wallace, Matthew Karlton Weiner, Suzette Marye Weller, Zachary Paul Welsh
Zachary:Ashley Lauren Brumfield, Caroline R. Cresap*, Bergen F. Dove, Brogan Lane Gibbon, Jacob William Grice*, Cade Christian Leblanc*, Whitney Camille Leblanc*, Kaleigh Nicole Louque*, Amanda Blayre Madison, Matthew Allen Mahan, Nicholas William Nalepa, Elizabeth Madelyn Norred*, Ethan Patrick Obrien*, Morgan G. Rathcke, Parker Wellsley Robertson, Madelynn K. Smith, Michael Andre Stubblefield, Daelyn Elise Weaver, Alyssa Lillian Wittig
East Carroll
Lake Providence:Elizabeth Clare Stapleton*
East Feliciana
Jackson:Catherine E. Hodges, Julie Hartley Odom*
Evangeline
Ville Platte:Alys Mae Hamlin*, Cayden S. Lee, Allison Danielle Soileau*, McKenzie Claire Walker
Franklin
Baskin:Robert Mason Bordelon*
Winnsboro:Avery Corinne Banks, Baylor Dean Cobb*, John Riley Graham*, Megan Lea Holloway, Avery Kaelyn Johnson*, Benjamin W. Lockard, Taylor Blake McManus, Samantha Marie Mulkey, Robert Penalton Newman, Connor Rollins Smith*
Wisner:Josie A. Parker, Phillip Raynor Stephens, Cayla Maelynn Walker
Grant
Bentley:Benjamin Conner Rushton
Colfax:Logan Mark Futrell*, Brendan Ray Slayter
Dry Prong:Tyler Matthew Hight
Georgetown:Dalton Trent Bartley*, Christopher Reuben Griffith, Hannah C. McPherson*
Pollock:Parker Gabriel Dubois, Samuel Keith Lamma*, Tristen Brooke Roussell*
Iberia
Jeanerette:Raphael Olivier, Madison Grace Parro, Kassidy Lin Talbot
New Iberia:Alyssa Claire Anslem*, Jasmine Arie Batiste, Blair Beth Bourque*,
Noah Michael Lomenick, Paul James Macip, Grace Sinclair Miholic*, Luke E. Suarez*
Iberville
Saint Gabriel:Kirstynn Ann Bettencourtt*
Sunshine:Madeline Elizabeth Robison
Jackson
Chatham:Luke Lamar Beamesderfer
Eros:Allison Brooke Edwards
Hodge:Travis Waylne Cobb
Jonesboro:Bryceton Bennett Aranda*, Sarah Elizabeth Bates*, Sadie Eylien Beaubouef, Kaylee Susannah Davis*, Skyler Elizabeth Dycus*, William Chandler Hay, Gabriel M. McMillan, Jolea Grace Simpson*, Jonathan Everett Smith, Nathan Stephens
Quitman:Beau Lawson Bowen, Hunter Christian Curry, Audrey C. Duck, Hunter Lane Folks, Kaylee Nicole Ford, Brittany Danielle Goss*, Cameron M. Hollis*, Aston Michael Johnson*, Elizabeth Faith Johnson*, John Scharr, Avery E. Spangler*, James K. West, Katelyn Leigh Wiley, Katie A. Williams*
Jefferson
Doyline:Jacob M. Corke
Gretna:April J. Gauthreaux, Victoria Lee Giepert
Harvey:Viridiana Alejandra Arellano
Kenner:Grace Autumn Beard*, Amelia K. Boudreau*, Gabrielle A. Brister, Jose R. Carmona*, Jeanne M. Dugas*, Garrett Robert Lee, Anquan Malik Milton, Samantha Marie Verges*, Henry Vo, Hannah Marie Withrow*
Marrero:Colin P. Doherty*, Lindsey Michelle Gros, Bryson Patrick Hebert, Mai Nguyen, Sierra M. Sacco
Metairie:Matthew G. Ellis, Madeline Elise Hatten, Emily Christine Howard, Thomas R. Jackson*, Keith Lawrence Kelly*, Neal Starnes Lopez, Sam A. Lopez, Anthony Joseph Monistere*, Catherine E. Neal*, Reagan Elizabeth Treadway, James K. Virga
New Orleans:Zachary Deam Dibenedetto, William Edward Herbert*, Jacob Paul Scheurer*
River Ridge:Ryan Robert Porche, Sullivan Parker Stringer
Waggaman:Christopher Michael Hotard*
Westwego:Ethan Joseph Porta*
Jefferson Davis
Jennings:Jacob P. Dobson*, Gavin C. Doucet*, Za Kyranee Jordan, Jadon Philip Smith*, Alex Landon Sparks*
LaSalle
Jena:Andrew B. Jones
Olla:Tori Brooke Ainsworth
Trout:Andrew Paul Sanders*
Tullos:Gracie Samantha Sinclair*
Lafayette
Broussard:Sydney R. Chandler, Kamryn Elaine Miller*
Carencro:Joel William Buckles, Jacquelin C. Laberteaux*, Jamie Michelle Laberteaux*
Duson:Anna M. Boothe
Lafayette:Jude Anthony Ardoin*, Meredith Grace Arnold, Matthew James Aubert*, Mary Anne Barrilleaux, Ethan Charles Blanchard, Charles Edward Dronet, Luke Henry*, Holden Michael Martin*, Graham William McCarthy, Seth Alexander McDaniel, Annie C. Mouton*, Annabell Claire Myers, Madison Claire Stelly*
Scott:Steven Edward Alleman
Youngsville:Michael W. Hebert, Kate Elizabeth Horton*, Emily C. Landry*, Ruthanne Reaux, Adam Grant Soileau, William Davis Viator*
Thibodaux:Lillian E. Blanchard*, Mary Clause*, Reece L. Delatte, Brennan J. Henry*, Collin J. Richard*, Spencer Joseph Rochel, Jacob P. Rodrigue, Emma G. Rogers, Lexi Brielle Steinmann, Andrew Asher Turner*
Lincoln
Choudrant:Caroline Marie Antley, Audrey Danielle Brackin, Aaron Jacob Caldwell,
Riley Jules Patterson*, Jalia Marie Payne, Caleb Long Phillips*, Elena A. Pigg,
Ellie Elizabeth Puljak*, Sophia Marie Puljak*, Emma K. Purifoy*, Gabriel David Rivera*,
Katie Paige Roberts*, Emma Alice Scheaffer*, Jordan Elizabeth Scott, Tyler J. Scroggins,
Audrey G. Seney*, Kinslee Alese Spatafora, Savannah Renee Spivey, Brandon Alexander Squires*,
Joel Thomas Stephens, Emma Jane Stone, Haley Anne Strain, James Chapman Strebeck*,
Hope E. Strickel, Lauren Ashley Theis*, Jesse D. Thompson, Emily Genieve Tooke,
Clairyssa Lynn Tripp, Jessica Ann Upshaw, Alexander L. Walker*, Jessica Danielle Walker*,
Everett M. Watson*, Dianne W. Webb*, Anna Marie Welch, Lucas Tobias Wick,
Austin R. Wilson, Justin Tyler Wrubel, Katelyn L. Wyatt*, Dylan Kurt Young
Simsboro:Nathan D. Harlow, Brooklyn Lester*, Madison Elizabeth Scheer,
Kelcie Nichole Sneed, Daisy Michelle Wood
LIVINGSTON
Albany:Avereigh Ellen Barras*, Austin Micheal Hampton, Julia Rene Hanewinkel,
Allie Elizabeth Smith, Macy Francis Thibodeaux
Denham Spgs:Emma Grace Allerheiligen, Mandolyn C. Donohue, Christian M. Hall*,
Hayden James Hand*, Hannah Angelle Hauptman*, Kyle Joseph Kieronski*, Hanna Lyn Stout,
Laura J. Todd, Laney K. Vige*
Denham Springs:Garrett Ward Ferris, Kaley Ann Fontenot*, Adam Peter Giarrusso,
Benjamin Walker Haley*, Kaylee Nichole Hibbard*, Lawson R. Kennedy, Cody Nicholas Marino,
Logan Joseph Pertuis, Lawson Thomas Peters*, Korie P. Peyton*, Bradley Carl Reed,
Dylan Thomas Watson*
Livingston:Emily Cecilia Armand*, Melanie L. Tircuit
Maurepas:Rose Camille Emery
Springfield:Brandon Oubre*
Walker:Jonah Bradford Hoffman, Garrett Patrick*, Sydni P. Seighman*
Madison
Tallulah:Delarriea Dunlap*, Xandria Chantel Kline
Morehouse
Bastrop:Cason Eli Churchwell, Landrie Clark*, Gwyneth Edwards*, Emma L. Goss*, Rheanna Alyce Mays, Caroline Kate Pitts, Jordan Antony Rabun, Parker Craig Rea*, Alex Jacob Ricks, Jalen Charles Robinson, Jillian Elise Sistrunk*, Katie A. Smith
Natchitoches
Campti:Brooklyn Leigh Azlin*, Pasha U. Farley
Goldonna:Grace Marie Caskey*
Natchitoches:William S. Broadway*, Anna Catherine Coleman*, Mary-katherine Dawson, Luke M. Robertson, Carlee Alison Scott, Anna E. Walker*, Abigail L. Wheat*
Robeline:Anna K. Arthur*, Amelia McKenzie Broadway, Brooklyn Alayna Jenkins*
Orleans
New Orleans:Gabriel S. Barfield*, Lauren E. Cage*, Eden Girmay, Gavin Nash Grenda, Jordan Ruiz Merritt*, Reilly E. Spitzfaden*
OUACHITA
Calhoun:Dauci Grace Avery*, Katie A. Bailey*, Kerington Lyn Bass,
Michael-anne Garlington, Sophie Margaret Gresh*, Jenna Mallory Hill*, Kathryn L. Hodge*,
Kimberly E. Holliman*, Alexis Laine McGrew*, Monica Mobley*, Hunter Peyton Peacock,
Anna Clair Perodeau*, Nicholas C. Shows, Andrew Max Steen*, Jon A. Torres*,
Marc A. Torres
Monroe:Gregory Robert Allen, Steven J. Anderson*, Brock Michael Belanger,
Taylor Anding Bentley, Ethan Jet Bondad*, Lillian Claire Booth, Kylee Ann Boudreaux*,
George Daniel Breard, Jasper Michael Brown, Mary Bryant*, Katherine Adele Burch,
Baylor Jackson Burchfield*, Aaron Royce Calhoun*, Jacob William Calhoun*, Thomas Calvo*,
Caitlyn H. Campbell, John David Cattar, Caroline Michelle Clary*, Samuel Joseph Conti,
Gavin H. Corder, Anna Grace Cotton*, James Jackson Cuthbert, Grant Taylor Davis*,
Thomas Michael Deshotel, Madison V. Dickerson*, Samuel Ryan Donn*, Zoe O. Evans*,
James Alexander Forte*, Caroline Louise Garrett*, Shelbi Madison Green*, Arin Dionne Griffin,
Charlotte E. Guice, Clayton Henry Hopkins, Haylee E. Ingle, Jamecia Monyae Jones*,
Jameson Cade Jordan, Elizabeth Faye Kent, Patrick B. King, Gabriel Justin Lipe*,
Mia Michelle Mardis, Van Matherne*, Gracie Lyn May, James Oliver Meredith*,
Pineville:Marrisa Ellen Athey*, Alexis Laine Bardwell*, Trent Robert Barton*,
Brittney Ann Bolen*, Rebecca Leigh Bordelon, Benjamin Michael Butter*, Grace Catherine Cain,
A’lana R. Chenevert*, Emily A. Collins, Erin Elizabeth Cooper*, Lane Cooper,
Lauren Claire Cooper*, James Edward Dailey, Benjamin Luke Doughty*, Madison N. Edwards*,
Parker Marie Elliott, Sharon Emilie Flue*, Peyton Charles Forester*, Aleena Maria Gibbons,
Mia Grace Huff, Tanner Egan Jones*, Emma E. Lee, Colby Aaron Littleton,
Aeva Mae Moore, Hannah Leigh Perkins*, Lindsey Sueann Price*, Sebastian Bryan Renfrow,
Ethan Thomas Riggs, Grace Marie Roberts, Emma Katherine Schmitt, Anna Grace Scott,
Tori Leigh Sinclair, Molly Lane Smith*, Kennady Morgan Speir, Benjamin Richard Steen*,
Zachary M. Steen*, Kirsten P. Thiels*, James F. Trotter
Tioga:Kylee Grace Blackwood
Woodworth:Cloey Rene’ Ashworth*, Catherine L. Bain*, Ethan Webster Dowell
RED RIVER
Coushatta:Brilanne Taylor Bays, Adam T. Bryant, Brennan Thomas Edie*,
Alyssa Woodard
RICHLAND
Delhi:Hannah Danielle Hendry*, Kelsey O’Neal Horath, Alvin Ray Kie,
William Reed Wilson
Mangham:Alayna R. Russell
Rayville:Rebecca M. Anderson*, Corey Lee Belk-scroggins, Garrett Miller Brakefield*,
Aaron M. Cooper*, Spencer Wade Daniel, Logan Wade Escalon*, Luke Allen Gibson*,
William Nicholas Heath, Hannah Elizabeth Jones*, Madison J. Kennedy*, Suraj N. Patel*,
Haley Lynn Pitman, Aubrey J. Prewitt*
Sabine
Belmont:Reid A. Cobbs
Zwolle:Zachary Hunter Strebeck*
St. Bernard
Arabi:Andrew L. Rupp
Meraux:Ashley Lynn Dourrieu
St. Charles
Destrehan:Kailie Dawn Carrigee*, Shelby Renee’ Easley*, Caiden Reese Ledet*, Ryder Douglas Naquin
Luling:Ryan Joseph Barbier*, Caden M. Crass*, Annemarie Teresa McMillan*, Luke Harris Moore*
Norco:Sadie L. Rochelle*
St. James
Paulina:Kaylee K. Bourgeois*, Ethan J. Roussel, Reece Michael Veron*
St. John
La Place:Estelle Jobeth Heinold*
St. Landry
Arnaudville:Hannah L. Lanclos*
Eunice:Jeanne E. Dornier*, Wesley A. Driggs, Annie Caroline Huckaby*
Opelousas:Ella Claire Amy*, John Paul Braham, Cameron Jude Cormier
Washington:Avery Elizabeth Artigue
ST. MARTIN
Breaux Bridge:Ashlynn Elizabeth Courville*
St. Martinville:Anaya Janae Cormier, Joshua Irving Trahan
ST. MARY
Berwick:Grant Paul Hebert*, Landen T. Nguyen*
Franklin:Olivia C. Luke*
Patterson:Aidan Romo*
ST. TAMMANY
Abita Springs:Riley Christopher Hnatyshyn, Robert Harlow Morton
Bush:Jacob Clark Melton, Aiden A. Plauche*, Jamie J. Stipelcovich
Covington:Brooke A. Annino*, Walker M. Badon, Hayden C. Blount,
Matthew B. Blume, Jacob D. Bouton, Joseph Timothy Brown, Aimee A. Cazayoux,
Kennedi Lynn Darr*, Cullen Michael Duval*, Jacob N. France*, Telemachus Rex Kilpatrick*,
Kaitlin Mary Ledoux*, Meghan Marie Michel, Carter Mahlon Murphy*, Sophia Owens,
Jay Francis Reich*, Dominick Joseph Sachitana, Chase Stephen Senac, Johnathon Henry Sheffield*,
Jackson David Truitt, Jordan N. Williams*
Folsom:Erin Margaret Glynn*, Jacob Daniel Murray, Michael A. Sharp
Lacombe:Keirsten Alexa Bryan, Blake Elliott Perrin*, Connor A. Rich
Madisonville:Jesse Michael Bertucci*, Kaylee Wei Drucker*, Justice Robert Groom,
Daniel Joseph Roy*, Kane A. Speshock*, Spencer L. Terry, Zachary T. Uson
Mandeville:Nathan Ryan Bucy, Shane Michael Cady, Shaw Christian Corcoran,
Thomas Christian Howell, Collin P. Jacks*, Matthew Steven Karasoulis, Roger Joseph Keller,
Joshua Hayden Lajaunie*, Carter Ryan Ledbetter*, Chloe J. Lorca, Maximus Alexander Lowery,
Mason A. Macaluso, Davis J. Martin*, Katherine Kenyon Miller, Claire Rose Olivier*,
David E. Olivier, Kellee A. Puissegur*, Christian Scott Ross, Cade E. Ruttley,
Grant Carl Saizan*, Lee A. Saucier, Jacob Joseph Tomba*, Mason Vencil*,
Brianna M. Warren*, Alex Michael West
Pearl River:Chloe Lynn Jessie, Brandon K. Kaske, Riley Cole Lamonte*,
Celia E. Moschell
Slidell:Cailyn Rose Branton*, Owen J. Brinson*, Colby Hogan Buras,
Carl Aram Caloian*, Stephanie M. Glynn*, Isaac James Guidry, Christian J. Haag,
Luke Landry, Brooke E. Legendre*, John Gabriel Meguess*, Ryan C. Mulkey,
Emily Elizabeth Niemand, Ana Lyn Quirk, Cooper Jeffrey Rachow, Kalyb Matthew Rochon,
Hayden Ross Savoie*, Aubrey J. Stark*, Nathan Alexander Walters, Cassie E. Wingate*
Sun:Trilby A. Hill*
TANGIPAHOA
Amite:Kaleigh Brianne Powell*
Hammond:Emma Grace Broadwater*, Mayson E. Foster*, Jordan A. Mazzeno,
Maxwell Pray Turner, Caleb M. Wilson
Independence:Gabriel Alan Thompson*
Kentwood:Audrey Clare Conn
Loranger:Coy David Disher, Mikala J. Mount*
Ponchatoula:Leilani M. Celestine*, Andrew David Falcon*, Clarissa Keegan Haik*,
Zachery Ryan Hoover
Robert:Brandon Joseph Clouatre
Tickfaw:Luke William Purvis
Tensas
Newellton:Miller Kathryn Glass*, Anna Camille Vandeven*
Saint Joseph:Ayme Rene Melancon
Terrebonne
Bourg:Madeline Claire Toups*
Gray:Bella Rene Daigle*
Houma:Conner Michael Angelle, Cade Everett Bordelon*, Courtney M. Breaux, Logan James Carmouche*, Sara Lynn Chaisson, Lily Ann Domangue, Justin Michael Dufresne*, Alyssa L. Johnson, Rylie Nichole Malbrough*, Andrew Spencer Nettleton, Isabela Rae Ourso*, Andrew Pabon, Johnathan Dardar Zarraga*
Montegut:Demi Rebecca Martin
UNION
Bernice:Hadassah Rose Brandon*, Heather G. Kennedy, Holden W. Wells*
Downsville:Luke Weston Bell*, Johnathan Caleb Bridges, Blaine Thomas Holloway*,
Austin Trent Riser*, Autumn Alyssa Thomas, John Ross Wilhite
Farmerville:Avery A. Cobb*, Abigail Leigh Davis, Luis Felipe Flores,
Anacoco:Ellie Marie Macdonald*, Emily Madison Macdonald*
Hornbeck:Joseph Nathanael Nolen
Leesville:Joshua Wesley Allen*, Keely Breanne Baker, Faith C. Blakeney*, Braeden Matthew Bradley*, Matthew Ryan Christensen, Hope N. Gregory*, Aiden Elliot Herzog*, Emily A. Johnson*, Nariah Shenae Matthews, Cassie Jolee McKenzie, Brenna Claire Prewitt*, Kasey C. Stephens*, Presley Aaryn Youngblood*
Pitkin:Levi Joshua Savercool
Simpson:Hunter C. James*
Washington
Angie:Andrue Dewayne McMillan
Franklinton:Grayson Reid Bell, James Hayes Bickham*, Alyne Grace Bond, Mallory Michelle Bourquard*, Emma Louise Bowman, Colby John Staffier, Mackenzie Claire Stanford, Jonathan Edward Trahan*
Webster
Doyline:Jack Andrew Edwards*, Hayden A. Engel, Kyle G. Spears
Dubberly:Logan Matthew Bailey, Mary Alexis Fish*, Whitman B. McGee*, Julie A. Ortega*
Heflin:Lloyd Jacob Chumley*, Charles Jacob Gray
Minden:Jazmin Marie Abreu*, Lauren E. Adams*, James Carter Barnett, Lauren Cheatham, Emma Earnhardt, Carson Jack Fields, Molly Fowler*, Walker Hagen Gray, Daniel R. Hamm*, Jacob Lee Hanson, Connor Jacob Heard*, Ethan Jeffus, Mary Evelyn King*, Maddox Peyton Lee*, Alyssa Clair Martin, Zachary Allen McIntyre*, Jackson McKinney*, Nicholas Lindsay Mourad, Collin Murphy, David Phillip Nida*, Emma Claire Pitman*, Madison Grace Pye*, Haley Amber Raburn, Emily N. Ramie*, Rebecca Lynn White
Sarepta:Grant Jeffrey Harper*, Kody Grant Herrick*, Brianna J. Lewis, Meagan Sydney Maxwell*
Sibley:William Ryan Kendrick, Maya Faith Merritt, Jinny P. Schober*, Jaykob Stewart*
Springhill:Lyndie P. Green, William P. Smith*
West Baton Rouge
Addis:Brooke Elizabeth Bell*, Kali N. Daley, Emma Elizabeth Sarradet
Port Allen:Madison Claire Martinez, Brenden James McGee*
West Carroll
Oak Grove:David Winter Bruce, Elizabeth Lynn Clack*, James R. Clack,Daisy Rane Corley, Dixie Lane Corley, Kelvin Jermaine Holloway, William Kade Klink, Ethan Herbert McDaniel, Trinity G. Smith, Kenzie Breann Thomas*
Pioneer:Enchantise Mache’ Booker
West Feliciana
St. Francisville:Calla May Bunting, Reagan Elizabeth Edwards*, Taylor Garrett Hughes*, Jenna L. Summers, Elizabeth J. Alberty, Camille T. Burns, Emma C. Daniel*, Elise Nicole Lamartiniere, William Hatcher Ralph*, Sarah Olivia Wilson*, Jacob Josef Barbosa*, Abby Rae Benton*, Kaitlyn Renee McClure, Raeghan Lashay Williams*, Emma Claire Olsen*
Winnfield:Anthony A. Adams*, Joseph Nathanael Adams, Emma Grace Bevill*, Kaylee Elizabeth Bombard*, Kaylie C. Canerday, Barry C. Dees*, Sydney Claire Ferguson*, Elizabeth A. Heard*, Macy Taylor Hemphill*, Anna Catherine Little*, Peyton Nicholas Little*, Brooklynn M. Martinez*, Calie B. Maxwell, Ashley N. Thomisee*, Karlie M. Zimmerman*
———————————————————–
Alabama
Adamsville:Kaytee Lauren Fadlevich*
Cullman:Samuel J. Briehn*
Montgomery:Christopher Grant Smith*
Oneonta:William S. Patrick
Arkansas
Alexander:Alexandrea D. Bradke*, Jacquelyn McKenzie Red*
Arkadelphia:Taylor M. Dunkelgod, Gunner F. Johnson
Bella Vista:Aaron Joseph Childress
Benton:Shelby Anne Bratton*, Ethan Tyler Cochran, Cameron Joseph Dupree*,
Hunter S. Hagan*, Annalise F. Robbins
Cabot:Katherine A. Wright
Camden:Madelyn N. Albritton
Conway:Kennedy Lee*
Crossett:Bryce R. Moon*
El Dorado:Zachary A. Blackwell*, Tanecia Sharda Boone*, Hannah Elizabeth Brotherton,
Nichole Lynn Davis*, Christopher Ryland Jackson*, Tommy Sokmean Khou*, Alison Clare Looney*, Nathanael Aaron Marino, Spencer Max McNabb*, Macy Brooke Pratt*, Rylee Paige Scriber, Alyssa Renea Shipp
Emerson:Chloe Reann Burleson*, Preston W. Flow
Hensley:Stacey Diane Garner
Hot Springs:John Thomas Butler
Junction City:Landon Douglas Baker*
Lake Village:Josalyn Renee Allbritton, Joel Alexander Perry*
Magnolia:Katie Lee Davis, Jessica Mae Gunnels, Sutton Cate Pettit Nelson*,
Keith A. Watson*, Samantha Kate Wilson*
Maumelle:Allison Leighann Telford*
McGehee:Skyler Anne McAffry
Monticello:Caroline J. King, Anazya Arianna Lattimore*
North Little Rock:Morgan F. Hows*
Pine Bluff:Emma Holden Wyatt
Portland:Julia C. Everett
Sherwood:Nikolas Morgan*
Smackover:Lucas Hinson Burns*, Robert T. Dixon*, Caleb D. Watson
Waldo:Cade R. Key*
Ward:Jessica Faye Turner*
American Samoa
Adelaide:Caitlin Gwenyth Le Roux
Neutral Bay:Lara Alix Unkovich
Warmambool:Patrick Rea*
Arizona
Goodyear:William James Becker
Queen Creek:Arabiah Jefferson
Surprise:Alannah Faith Rogers
California
Fresno:Kaylee Ann Grealy*
San Diego:Noah Leland Deich
Wheatland:Tara Nichole Lamb*
Colorado
Arvada:Meghan M. Nash
Black Hawk:Jonathan Donald Kolterman
Colorado Springs:John David Norris*
Cundinamarca:Angelica Maria Quijano Oliveros
Fort Collins:Catherine Emma Lacey*
Highlands Ranch:Anna Moss Martineau
Longmont:Josiah L. Taylor
Florida
Miami:Nicholas Alexander Alonso
Niceville:Bryce T. Joyner*
Ocoee:Jonathan Edwin Finch*
Orange Park:Julie M. Kneipp
Georgia
Cumming:Morgan J. Flomerfelt*
Newnan:Matthew K. Rotolo
Woodstock:Thomas Patrick Wallace
Hawaii
Honolulu:William I. McClanahan*
Iowa
Underwood:Landon Michael Nelson
Idaho
Batam:Kazi Malika*
Illinois
Chicago:Maximus James Evanoff
East Saint Louis:Nariah I. Parks*
Fairview Heights:Danielle Anastasia Powers*
Naperville:David Michael Riser
Kansas
Olathe:Kayla A. Donovan*
Kentucky
Nicholasville:Robert L. Woodrum
Massachusetts
Mashpee:Rebecca H. Lancaster*
Michigan
Eaton Rapids:Sofia I. Urbina*
Missouri
Ashland:Lauren E. Parker*
Blue Springs:Kieran Thomas Gilpin
Hermann:Thomas Lloyd Henson
Mississippi
Bay Saint Louis:Whitney Frances Wallace
Brandon:Jeffrey Ince
Clinton:Nathan C. Massey, Taylor Laine Massey*
Florence:Lauren Elizabeth Barnett
Flowood:Spencer Drake*
Hattiesburg:Wesley Kate Monroe, Calli E. Stephens*, Madeline R. Townsend*
Louisville:Jesse Boydstun
Mize:Charles Bryce Lingle
Richland:Labrenda Latoya Brown
Vicksburg:Elora Annelyse Browning, Brianna Tylar Poole, Emma Linn Waisner*
Woodville:Mallory Sarah Cutrer*, Andrew Blaine McClure
Montana
Clancy:Gracen Rae Andres
Columbus:Damon S. House
North Carolina
Indian Trail:Elizabeth G. McDowell*
Matthews:Ainsley R. Yanz*
Raleigh:Gillian Balfour Fay
Waxhaw:Josie Ann Studer*
New Jersey
Millville:Leah Brooke Ellis*
Nevada
Henderson:Cassidy L. Husson, Tanner S. Metzger*
New York
Rosedale:Najah Rose Dawson
Liberty Township:Ethan Quinn Englert*
Powell:Seth Joesph Smollen*
Southington:Abigail Folds
Oklahoma
Eufaula:Connor R. Sigler
Oregon
Portland:Avery M. Kyle, Greta F. Streich
Pennsylvania
Erie:Tyler Warzynak*
New Castle:Lucas Jacob Doutt
Rhode Island
Belgrade:Anja Bukvic
Tennessee
Lakeland:Joshua Z. Norton
Murfreesboro:Reagan Delaney Lannom
Oakfield:Joseph Thomas Curtin
Selmer:Caroline Paige Anderson
Texas
Allen:Nicholas E. Cervantes, Grayson P. Schnaible*
Arp:Hayden G. Wright, Hunter Gilbert Wright
Atlanta:Drake L. Black
Austin:Ezra M. Esquivel
Beaumont:Emma Lyann Ammons, Landon Morreale*
Beckville:Hanna Elizabeth Elliott*, Presley Jo Elliott*
Bedford:Zachary K. Kilpatrick
Benbrook:Chloe Lynelle Nettles
Bullard:John Taylor Hebert*, Mason Kyle Kelley*
Burleson:Hayden C. Becton*
Carrollton:Katherine Alexander Haas*, Mark Pugh, Jacob Allen Von Tress*
Cypress:Quynhtran C. Do*, Joshua T. Iselin, Emiley I. Smith*
Dallas:William Brooks Caverlee, Karrington N. Elder, Jackson James Turner*
Decatur:Parker Elease Johnson*
East Bernard:Allie Grace Floyd*
Flint:Makenzie Ellen Alexander, Andrew J. Barham
Flower Mound:Daniel S. Asdel*, Grant M. Hull*
Forney:Rylie M. Jones, Nicole Madison McKissick*
Fort Worth:Ashanti Symone Bell, Savanna J. Gunn*
Friendswood:James Henry Jackson*
Georgetown:Kaylee Matic*
Gilmer:Kylie Rhea Pepper*
Gladewater:Kathryn Lee*
Godley:Ethan Shaw Haynes
Hallsville:Ethan D. Jamerson
Houston:Alden I. Dichoso*, Chloe Gayle Hernandez, Erica Pauline Hicks, Adeline Leigh Moss*, Isabel A. Sipocz*, Seth A. Warren*
Hughes Springs:Caden Daniel Edwards*
Huntington:Erin Elizabeth Hamilton
Katy:Dominic B. Rosario
Kaufman:Payton E. Grylls
Kingwood:Emma Elaine Barron, Jacob A. Carroll, Tiffany Sauble*, Dominic Sottile*
Kyle:Madison Elise Webb*
Lavon:Ethan Michael Tomsu*
Lewisville:Jordan K. Hatter*
Liberty Hill:Reed Irvin Jackson
Little Elm:Jailen Alexandria Hurley*
Longview:Brody Wayne Barnhill, Carson Allen Barnhill*, Xavier Lin-shiang-shiu Brumley*, Jarrett Layne Camp, Anthony L. Holyfield*, Kieron Benjamin Montgomery*, Julya K. Socoteanu
Lufkin:Zoe J. Baker*
Magnolia:Emily Bansuelo, Gavin Lowell Franck, Rebecca F. Mitcham
Marshall:Hali Allison Mitchell, Patton Baird Rode
McKinney:Jill N. Deglandon, Carter F. Janiga*, Katherine Marie Kirkpatrick*, Allyson Layne Plaster, Nathan B. Sargent*, Julia Rebecca Wilson
Missouri City:Jenna I. Reid
Mont Belvieu:Sarah Franklin*
Nash:Austin Michael Broussard*
New Caney:Claire Elizabeth Howard*
Northlake:Anna Kharisma Fontenot
Oak Point:Carlos Ramon Torres*
Port Aransas:Nicholas Hewson Winkelmann*
Prosper:Carlie J. Bowler, Timothy Joseph Wanasek
Richmond:Clarence D. Smith
Riesel:Taylor Joseph Zipperlen
Roanoke:Emilyclaire Riley Peden
Rockwall:Caden William Brown, Tristan E. Pettis*, Ashley M. Putman, Haley Ann Putman*, Nia Alese Wiley*
Rosharon:Morgan McKinli Smith
San Marcos:Arabella Olivia Bailey*
Shenandoah:Abby Jordyn Lee
Spring:McKinsey G. Denney*, Cynthia Kay Langkamp*, Jordan A. Pimentel, Chord Ramsey*, William M. Sandel*
Sugar Land:Claire Louise Garbarino, Isaac S. May*
Texarkana:Olivia Grace George, Ann Elise Lindsay, Caleb J. Neal, Jackson Cage Watlington*
The Woodlands:Matthew Joseph Guion
Tomball:Kamryn Jewel Bigler*, Jamie Trent
Tyler:Addison Claire Aschbacher, Kenneth Mason Combs, Clayton Kyle Cox, Matthew J. English*, Joshua Reed Hall, Rebekah Mae Miller*, Northey Allan Smith*, Devon J. Stewart
Van Alstyne:Joseph Rawlings Hector*
Waller:Rebekah Emily Lindblade*
Waskom:Jacob Tanner Norris*
Whitehouse:Kate Makenna Hamilton*
Wichita Falls:Carson William Yeagley
Wylie:Megan Elizabeth Emmert
Virginia
Leesburg:Meghan K. Dunnigan*
Washington
Federal Way:Olivia Patreece Ellingson
Wisconsin
Madison:Autumn M. Faircloth
Angola
Luanda:Leandro Lopes Londin
Bolivia
Santa Cruz:Valeria Encina Moreno, Flavia C. Zardan Salvatierra*
Benin
Cotonou:Catherine Jessica Gbetegan
El Salvador
San Salvador:Katherine Alejandra Cortez*
Zaragoza:Pablo Jose Saenz Mendez*
Republic of Georgia
Tbilisi:Luka Edzgveradze
Germany
Euftin:Madita Jolina Ehrig*
Hamburg:Nike Charlotte Praetzel*
Monchengladbach:Victoria Maria Datta
Rieden:Chiara Rieger*
Scheidegg:Lena Raedler*
Tirttau:Tim Rummelhagen*
Italy
Siena:Bernardo Boschi*
Cote d’Ivoire
Abidjan:Noura Badria Kanate, Bernard Kevin Kouame*
BASEBALL: The Ruston High School Bearcats (11-6) had a 10-game winning streak snapped Tuesday at home in a low scoring game against Airline by a final score of 2-1, and followed by splitting a two-game series with District 2-5A opponent Alexandria Senior High by a score of 8-1 in a loss Thursday and then a 6-5 walk-off win Saturday over the Trojans in the opening weekend for district play.
“It was a tight ballgame with Airline,” Ruston head coach Zack Smith said of the Tuesday ballgame. “I was disappointed that we couldn’t come through at the right moments. We had some opportunities, be we didn’t execute.”
Ruston gave up two runs through the first three innings to trail 2-0 before cutting into the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning after senior Kyron McConnell grounded into a fielder’s choice to score sophomore Jake Simmons.
Ruston would drop a second straight contest on Thursday on the first night of district play on the road after giving up eight unanswered runs after leading 1-0 in the top of the second inning. The Bearcats led the Trojans 3-2 after the bottom of the first before extending the lead to 4-2 after the third. ASH would take its first lead of the night in the top of the six after scoring two runs, but Ruston answered with both a run in the bottom of the sixth and then a walk-off single to left field by Bryant Bennett to score junior Gabe Gaudet.
“We faced a really good pitcher in Joe Bordelon for ASH on Thursday,” Smith said. “He did a great job of slowing our offense down, and we knew we would have to bounce back at our place. Sophomore Talan Billberry started for us and pitched four innings before senior Chase Clendenen came in to give us a good strong inning. And then we brought senior J.R. Tollett in to finish it for the last two innings and kept us in the ballgame where we had the chance to win it there at the end. Fortunately enough, Bennett came in with the walk-off hit that scored the winning run. That was very exciting for our team to bounce back after two tough losses.”
The Bearcats return to action tonight at home at 6 p.m. to take on a very talented Glenbrook team.
SOFTBALL: The Lady Bearcat softball team (3-11) picked up a couple of wins last week; first on Friday over North Caddo by a final score of 21-2 before beating Minden 10-6 on Saturday, both at the Evangel Tournament in Shreveport.
The win over Minden came on the heels of a tough 9-6 loss to D’Arbonne Woods with just a short break in between games. The Lady Bearcats gave up four runs in the top of the seventh and were unable to rally back at the end despite scoring three late inning runs.
Ruston head coach Lauren Garvie highlighted a series of plays that indicate how her team is continue to improve.
“At one point we were tied with D’arbonne Woods, and we’ve been drilling to play for each other and hit for first base,” Ruston head coach Lauren Garvie said. “(Junior Cala) Wilson singles on a hard ground ball and then (sophomore) Rilee Atwood, who has the talent to hit big, sac bunts to move her around and eventually (freshman) Sage Tolar doubles to score the go ahead run.
“I turned around and looked at Rilee and said “you just made that possible, great job!” And that’s not to take away from the hits that both Cala and Sage had but it’s to point out that this game is bigger than just one or two hits.”
Ruston shook off the end of the D’Arbonne Woods game and immediately went to work against Minden to get the win.
“My girls could have very easily wallowed in their seventh inning and not came back ready to play against Minden,” Ruston head coach Lauren Garvie said. “They had about a 15 minute break to reset their mind and they came back ready to play. I keep saying it but truly every week is about growth and this week that growth showed up a little bit in the wins/loss column which I think is what these girls needed.”
Ruston had fallen previously in the week to a pair of district opponents; first to West Ouachita 11-0 on Tuesday and then Ouachita 12-6 on Thursday.
“In the middle of the week we talked about what it meant to truly play this game and play it unselfishly then we came out Thursday as a team ready to play. We had been struggling in the 5/6 gap on the infield and we came into Thursday ready to lay out and make the play. Atwood pitched more innings for us this week than she has all year and she did well. We also hit in the later part of the week and it was good, we bunted in the later part of the week and it was good.”
Ruston hosts West Monroe tonight to continue district play.
Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie announced coaching staff changes with the additions of linebackers coach Cortez Carter, defensive line coach Jacori Greer, and safeties coach Nate Johnson while promoting analysts Myles Carelock to cornerbacks coach and Teddy Veal to running backs coach.
Cortez Carter
Carter arrives at Tech after spending the previous three years on Florida State’s staff, serving as a senior analyst on defense for the Seminoles.
Before Florida State, he worked on Mike Norvell’s staff at Memphis as a graduate assistant in 2019. That year, Memphis won a school-record 12 games, earned the program’s first outright conference championship since 1969 and played in the Cotton Bowl. Carter was a defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator at Lock Haven University in 2018.
He was a graduate assistant for two seasons at Marshall, working on offense in 2016 and the defensive staff in 2017. The 2017 team won eight games and finished the year with a victory in the New Mexico Bowl. He began his coaching career at Brookpoint High School in 2015.
Carter was a four-year letterman at Marshall and appeared in 51 games during his collegiate career. He helped the Herd win 35 games, including the 2014 Conference USA championship, and play in three bowl games. As a senior, he helped lead Marshall to its first conference title since 2002.
Carter earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration management from Marshall in 2014 and completed his master’s in continuing education from Marshall in 2017. He also holds a master’s from Memphis in sports hospitality management, earned in 2019.
Jacori Greer
Greer comes to Ruston after spending the past three seasons at Texas State.
During Greer’s time at Texas State, he helped defensive lineman Nico Ezidore earn Third-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors after recording 66 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Before Texas State, Greer served three years in a similar role at Abilene Christian. In 2019, Abilene Christian ranked 10th nationally in team sacks with 36. One of Greer’s defensive linemen, Temisan Kuyatsemi, ranked among the top 20 NCAA Division I FCS leaders after averaging 0.77 sacks per game (8.5 sacks in 11 games). The Wildcats averaged 3.09 sacks (34 in 11 games) in 2018 to rank among the top eight FCS teams in the country.
He also produced a pair of All-Southland Conference defensive linemen in 2019 and two honorable mention selections in 2018 and 2019. Defensive tackle Cole Burgess was named Third-Team All-SLC after he tallied 35 tackles (16 unassisted), 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three quarterback hurries. He also forced and recovered a fumble and broke up one pass. Kameron Hill was named a Third-Team All-SLC defensive end after he tallied 24 tackles, 16 solo stops, 9.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and six quarterback hurries.
Prior to Abilene Christian, Greer spent two seasons as a defensive line coach at New Mexico Highlands and a season as a defensive graduate assistant at SMU in 2013.
A native of Dallas, Greer joined the Lobos’ coaching staff as a graduate assistant before following Archie McDaniel to SMU and serving as a graduate assistant for the Mustangs in 2015.
Greer earned a bachelor’s degree in intercultural communications from New Mexico in 2013 and a master’s degree in sports administration from New Mexico in 2014. He played four years (2009-2012) on the Lobo’s defensive line and was an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention selection in 2012 before serving as a team captain as a senior.
Nate Johnson
Johnson joins Cumbie’s staff after spending the previous three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Central Washington University.
He spent the 2019 season at Stephen F. Austin. During his one season with SFA, Johnson oversaw the safeties group. He helped guide a secondary that pulled down a combined 10 interceptions on the year and had 33 pass breakups.
Before his stop in Nacogdoches, Johnson was at Minnesota-Duluth. During his lone season at Minnesota-Duluth in 2018, Coach Johnson helped the Bulldogs to an unblemished 11-0 regular season, a perfect 7-0 conference record, a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) co-championship and a spot in the Division II playoffs. Working with four All-NSIC selections and an all-region pick, Johnson’s secondary led the league in pass defense by holding opponents to a mere 146.5 yards per game through the air and a completion percentage of only 41.9. With the assistance of the secondary unit, Minnesota-Duluth was tops in the NSIC in both scoring defense (12.4 PPG) and total defense (205.4 YPG).
Under the tutelage of Johnson, the Bulldogs were able to pick off 11 passes and break up another 46 as senior safety Sam Lynch garnered Don Hansen All-Super Region Four Second Team honors after being named All-NSIC North Division First Team. Lynch claimed 49 total tackles on the year, including 34 solo stops, made a pair of interceptions and broke up a team-best 11 passes. Senior cornerback Tareq Abulebbeh was also tabbed All-NSIC North Division First Team after recording a team-high five interceptions to go along with 23 tackles and four pass breakups. Both junior free safety Bill Atkins and sophomore cornerback Michael Kirkendoll earned All-NSIC North Division Second Team plaudits.
Prior to his time at Minnesota-Duluth, Johnson supervised the safeties for three seasons (2015-17) at Central Washington. During Johnson’s final season at Central Washington in 2017, the Wildcats posted an 11-0 regular season record, captured the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship, and secured the Super Region Four’s No. 1 seed in the NCAA II playoffs. While coaching at Central Washington, Johnson helped produce five All-GNAC honorees and one D2CCAAll-Region pick, Jackson Huerta, as Central Washington went 23-9 overall.
Before joining the Wildcat staff, Johnson coached for three seasons (2012-14) at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, where he was the defensive backs coach. Johnson got his start in the collegiate coaching profession at his alma mater, St. Cloud State, taking on a graduate assistant (wide receivers) role from 2009-11. In Johnson’s final year in St. Cloud in 2011, the Huskies were Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference co-champions and qualified for the NCAA II playoffs for the second-straight season.
A native of Austin, Minnesota, Johnson culminated his four-year playing career at St. Cloud State in 2008 by attaining All-NSIC status as a second-team wide receiver. In addition to lettering in football, Johnson competed for four seasons on the baseball diamond.
Myles Carelock
Carelock spent the 2022 season as a defensive analyst at LA Tech working primarily nickel backs.
Before arriving in Ruston in 2022, Carelock spent three seasons at Stephen F. Austin, where he was a defensive quality control assistant. Carelock played a big role in the Lumberjacks rebuild as they went from 3-9 in his first season in 2019 to 6-4 in 2020 and 8-4 with an FCS Playoff appearance in 2021.
He spent the 2019 season on staff at Miami (Ohio) as a graduate assistant coach for the Redhawks’ offense.
Carelock’s first coaching stint was at Central Washington, where he was a defensive graduate assistant and oversaw the development of the team’s nickel backs from 2015-2018.
During his collegiate career, Carelock suited up for a pair of teams – Southern Utah and Central Washington – and competed in a total of 25 games. Through his two-year career at FCS program Southern Utah, he logged time in 15 games and finished with nine tackles and a pair of interceptions. For his senior year, Carelock headed to Ellensburg, Wash., to play at NCAA Division II Central Washington where he picked off five passes and racked up 28 tackles through 10 games.
Teddy Veal
A former Louisiana Tech standout wide receiver, Teddy Veal has elevated the coaching ranks at Tech following his playing career. Veal was promoted to running backs coach after serving as an offensive analyst in 2022 and a graduate assistant from 2020-2022.
After prepping at West Jefferson High School, where he was an all-state selection as a senior and helped led the Buccaneers to three state playoff appearances, Veal signed with Tulane. After spending the 2014-15 seasons at Tulane, Veal transferred to LA Tech where he lettered and garnered all-conference honors in 2017 and 2018.
During his two seasons as a Bulldog, Veal caught 144 passes for 1,666 yards and eight touchdowns while also returning 20 punts for 168 yards and a touchdown.
The Bulldogs begin their first spring practice tomorrow morning. LA Tech will have 15 dates of spring practice including the spring game which will take place at Joe Aillet Stadium at 11 a.m. on April 22.
Freddie Murray was relieved of his duties Monday following seven seasons as the Lady Tigers head coach. (Courtesy Photo)
Grambling State University Athletics has announced a change in leadership of the women’s basketball program. Coach Freddie Murray has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately.
Murray came to Grambling as an assistant coach in 2015-16 and then took over as head coach in 2016-17. He led the Lady Tigers to back-to-back winning seasons and 19 wins in both 2016-17 and 2017-18, including an appearance in the SWAC championship game in each of his first two years.
Murray and the Lady Tigers won the SWAC Championship in 2017-18 and earned an NCAA Tournament appearance.
However, over the past five seasons, Murray’s record was a mere 55-86, including losing seasons in three of the past four years.
“I’d like thank coach Murray for his service to the women’s basketball program and his commitment to the department and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Trayvean Scott.
Murray, who served as head coach for seven season, finished his tenure with an overall record of 93-115.
Murray was assistant women’s basketball coach at Florida A&M University from 2010-2015. Murray assisted the FAMU Lady Rattler program to their best record in 2010 when they finished the season 22-8.
A national search for a new coach will commence immediately.
Join us for the Mardi Gras Futurity and Louisiana Downs Futurity at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, March 25, 2023
Three scholarships will be awarded through a LIVE drawing in the Louisiana Downs winner’s circle on Saturday, March 25th, immediately following the 4th race.
Applicants must register in person beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
Registration will close promptly after the third race.
ENTRANTS MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN
For more information on the scholarship eligibility or the rules, please see the attached flyer or visit LQHBA.COM
A citizen’s call about an unattended car in his yard led to the arrest of a Houston man for auto theft Sunday morning.
A caller on La. Highway 563 reported waking up and finding the car in his yard. Once the dispatcher checked the license plate, it was determined the car had been reported stolen in Union Parish.
Another vehicle and a man were spotted nearby by responding Lincoln Parish deputies as well as a second man on foot. The vehicle was located again and stopped, and the two men questioned.
Talandis O. Cotton, Jr., 21, said the vehicle had run out of gas and belonged to his girlfriend who he argued with the previous night.
When the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office was contacted, Cotton was identified as the suspect in the theft. He was placed under arrest.
Cotton was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center pending transfer to Union Parish authorities.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Description: The Case Manager is responsible to assist in the development, planning, coordination and administration of the activities of utilization review, discharge planning and resource utilization. Job responsibilities include but are not limited to daily review of medical records to determine appropriateness and medical necessity of admission, continued hospital stay and use of resources and discharge readiness. Requires physical stamina and emotional stability.
Population served: All patient populations within the facility requiring review of patient care services and discharge planning.
Benefits: Competitive salaries, 401k, benefits
Apply: NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com go to ABOUT US and click on CAREERS
Description: Responsible for assembly of food items of customers (physicians, employees, visitors, patients, and patient family members) via the serving line. Responsible for sanitation of work area and equipment. Population served: Members of the Dietary department interact with all ages of visitors and patients within the hospital as well as Inpatients with specific dietary needs.
Benefits: Competitive salaries, 401k, benefits
Apply: NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com go to ABOUT US and click on CAREERS
This is a paid Job Posting
To get rates to advertise your businesses job posting, email lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Funeral services for Mr. Bennie Edward Loflin, Sr., age 94 of Princeton, TX will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston, LA with Rev. Dwayne Monk officiating. Burial will follow in the Roselawn Memorial Garden Cemetery in Calhoun, LA under direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
Bennie was born January 18, 1929 in Chatham, LA to Hubert and Etna Loflin, and he passed away March 17, 2023 in the care of Princeton Medical Lodge. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Bennie joined the Navy at age 16. After serving a full term in the Navy, he joined the Air Force before returning home. Bennie moved to Natchez, MS where he met the love of his life Lee White and married her in 1953. He spent his career in the oil field, traveling from Louisiana to as far north as Canada, finally settling in Palestine, TX for 20 years. While Bennie was a mostly quiet man, dominoes were one of his favorite past times. At the age of 94, Bennie was still sharp enough to be awarded the dominoe champ at Princeton Medical Lodge. He was preceded in death by his parents Hubert and Etna Loflin; brothers: Ralph Loflin, Clyde Loflin, J.C. Loflin, Bobby Loflin and Sherwood Loflin; sister Lenore; and his wife of 69 years Lee Loflin.
Left to cherish his loving memory are his daughter Linda Davis and husband Robert; son Eddie Loflin and wife Sharon; grandchildren: Brian Davis and wife Stacy and Krystal Boyd and husband Jason; great-grandson Ryder Boyd; and a host of other family and many friends.
The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Princeton Medical Lodge for the care and friendship Bennie received.
Visitation will be held from 9:00-10:00 AM, Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at the funeral home. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.
Bennie Loflin, Sr. January 18, 1929 – March 17, 2023 Visitation: Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Funeral Service: Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Cemetery Committal: Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 451 LA 151 North, Calhoun
Thuyen Do December 10, 1968 – March 16, 2023 Services pending
Charles Wayne Terry October 8, 1966 – March 16, 2023 Visitation: First Baptist Church, Ruston, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Service: First Baptist Church, Ruston, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 2:00 pm
Pictured is Wilbert Ellis standing next to an ice sculpture honoring and signifying his No. 31 jersey retirement during a reception in the former Grambling State baseball coach’s honor Thursday night at Squire Creek Country Club.
By T. Scott Boatright
This weekend’s celebration started early on Thursday night as a reception celebrating the jersey retirement of former Grambling State baseball coach and Baseball Coaches of America Hall of Famer Wilbert Ellis was held at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant.
The No. 30 jersey of former Grambling State President and baseball coach Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones and Ellis’ No. 30 jersey was retired during a pregame ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Friday before the start of the Tigers’ three-game baseball series against Southern.
On Thursday night, friends of Ellis gathered to offer congratulations and stories about their relationship with the coach who led GSU to three SWAC Championships and also guided the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances en route to a 740–462–1 career record after assuming the head coaching role upon Jones’ retirement in 1977.
Leading off was local businessman James Davison, whose friendship with Ellis goes back to their childhoods.
“Both of us came into this world in 1937 and it’s just good for both of us to still be here in the world,” Davison said. “We lived great lives and a friendship that couldn’t have been any better.
“We go back a long time. My mother and his mother were good friends and I’ve known this rascal ever since we were about 12 years old, so we’ve been together more than 70 years now. It’s been a good run. I love him and I appreciate so much y’all honoring him in this way. Let’s keep on taking good care of him.”
Lincoln and Union Parish District Attorney John Belton, a longtime friend who also works alongside Ellis with the Friends of the Eddie Robinson Museum, called Ellis both a friend and a father-figure.
“I don’t just call him ‘Coach,’ I call him ‘Dad’ as well,” Belton said. “I am so blessed in so many ways, because outside of my parents, he has played a big role in making the man I am today. Without him I don’t think I’d be where I am today.”
Belton also spoke of the No. 31 jersey Ellis wore.
“That number is significant in so many ways,” Belton said. “For one, Moses is mentioned in 31 of the 66 books of the Bible. Moses is one of the greatest leaders that ever walked the face of this Earth. But he and Coach Ellis have a lot in common – both are servant leaders. Coach is very humble just like Moses. Coach, you don’t boast or brag, you just walk the walk and talk the talk …
“Coach, I strive to be like you. I strive to be a man worth respecting, a man worth imitating and a man worth following. I’m not there yet, but I’m following you, and you’re there. So I thank God for you, and I love you.”
Former Jackson State coach Robert Braddy was also on hand to honor his old rival
“Mr. Belton threw me off for a minute when he said Coach Ellis didn’t brag or boast,” Braddy joked as he started his turn at the microphone. I know better. I’ll have to tell y’all about that sometime.”
“They say that Coach says that he’s an ordinary guy just like everyone else,” Braddy said. “But I can assure you that he certainly is not an ordinary man and has certainly made an impact on a lot of individuals, especially myself.
“I began coaching at Jackson State in 1973 and I remember you telling me that the biggest room in a house is the room for improvement,” Braddy said. “My brother was my assistant coach in 1973 and we came to play Grambling and my brother, who had asthma, got ill.
“And I called Coach Ellis, and he came over and took my brother to the doctor. And that certainly made an impact on me. The next day Prez (Jones) found out and told Coach Rob (Eddie Robinson, who was GSU’s athletics director at the time). And he asked why I didn’t call him. I could see right then that they all cared about people. And that had a lasting impact on my life.”
Current GSU baseballer Trevor Hatton came up and expressed his thanks for the words of encouragement talking to the team as often as he does.
Ellis’ sister Resie Lampkin spoke, revealing the family’s insight on the Grambling Legend Hall of Famer.
“Very rarely in life do you meet and rub shoulders with true leaders of men,” Lampkin said. “Coach, you are one of those men. He has impacted the lives of thousands of young men aspiring for greatness in the baseball talent arena. And I must say, he continues to do so, even today.
“Any of those men would tell you that Coach, or Cap, whatever you choose to call him, was about developing their character first, their skills second and doing so, acknowledging God as the main focus.
“And any of those players would tell you that at the start of every season, Coach would start the season off with a quote from Martin Luther King (Jr.) – ‘The time is always right’ – a quote that many never forgot.”
She closed with a personal message to her brother.
“We want everybody to know that we are proud of what you did,” Lampkin said. “And that baseball was not your life and is not who you are. Who you are is a statue of a man of God. Was Wilbert a perfect man? By no means, no. But to the critics and naysayers, they don’t name a baseball field after a critic, do they?
“Wilbert, we’re all proud of you and the path that you have taken. I am honored to say that I am your sister.”
Current GSU baseball coach Davin Pierre heaped his praises on Ellis before the legendary coach himself took the mic.
Ellis told a story about learning he had been named baseball coach at Grambling over the phone from a friend who read it in the news while Ellis was out on a baseball recruiting trip for GSU.
“That’s how I found out, I was out recruiting for Grambling,” Ellis said. “It didn’t matter whether I was going to get the job or not because I was doing it for Grambling.
And as he closed out his turn at the mic, Ellis offered thanks to God for bringing everyone together to honor him.
“I want to thank God for all of you being here tonight,” Ellis said. “It makes me feel real good to have so many friends to come out and honor me as Grambling retires No. 30 for Prez and my No. 31. Prez asked me to wear his No. 30 for a while when I became head coach and I did for a while, because I always listened to what Prez said because he signed my check.
“Thank you all for being here. God bless America. God bless Grambling and Lincoln Parish, and God bless you.”
