Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech’s volleyball team placed four athletes on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, announced by the association on Tuesday.

Izabely Benjamin, Charlize Williams, Jailen Hurley, and Riley Steubing all achieved a 3.5 GPA in the classroom and made significant contributions for the Bulldogs on the court.

Benjamin is on pace to graduate in the spring in marketing and has a 3.53 GPA. On the court, the Rio de Janeiro native finished third on the team with 154 kills and was second with 221 digs.

Williams had a record-breaking season in her one year with Tech. The middle blocker tied the school record with 1.24 blocks per set, and her 128 total blocks put her fifth all-time for the Bulldogs. She added 135 kills on the offensive side. The grad student finished with a 3.87 GPA at Maryland Eastern Shore while earning her degree in rehabilitation psychology. At LA Tech, she earned a 4.0 for her master’s in counseling and guidance.

After being named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team, Hurley receives her second academic award. The junior has a 3.83 GPA in interior design. The right-side hitter finished with 103 kills, 52 blocks, 67 digs, and 14 aces for the season.

Steubing stepped up for Tech early in the season at libero. The sophomore has a 3.81 GPA in kinesiology and health sciences. Steubing finished with 329 digs and 46 assists on the season.

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

The Louisiana Tech Baseball program will host its annual “First Pitch Banquet” on Friday, January 31, 2025, in the Thomas Assembly Center.

Doors to the event open at 5:30 p.m. for the interactive portion of the event including an autograph session, silent and live auctions, carnival games, raffles, and more. Dinner and the formal programming will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now; individual seats are $55 and reserved tables are $600. Those reserving tables will receive a gift as part of their purchase. Floor seating availability is limited, and additional stadium seating will become available once floor seating has been sold out.

Head coach Lane Burroughs is scheduled to speak, as he will give Bulldog fans a glimpse of what to expect when LA Tech opens its season. Burroughs enters his ninth season at the helm having led the Bulldogs to 278 wins in his tenure.

Current Bulldog players will take on producing and performing in a Player Awards Show.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets to the event should visit: LATechAlumni.org/FirstPitch25.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to play 34 home games inside J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park, beginning with a four-game series Feb. 14-16 versus Maine.

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Victoria Ellen Jones Fallin 
Dec. 10, 1942 — Dec. 14, 2024 
Visitation: 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer 
Service: 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech University has announced its 2024 Fall 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.

Honor students are listed below by their hometowns, with all Louisiana students listed first by parish.

Louisiana

Acadia

• Church Point: Carin Elise Angelle*
• Crowley: Elise Marguerite Blanchard
• Eunice: Justus Cade Blanchard
• Rayne: Ava Dietrich Baudoin*, James James Blake*, Myra Rose Lejeune

Allen

• Kinder: Rylin Sharon Racca, Cameron W Storer*
• Oakdale: Ethan P Mcgee, Ava E Newman, Christy R Soileau*
• Oberlin: Kullen Zane Hebert*
• Pitkin: Jasmine Emily Cook

Ascension

• Geismar: Emily Anne Christjansen, Baron C Cosey, Sydnee Daniel*, Cameron Michael Dupre, Kylie P Evans*, Julia Ruth Minvielle*
• Gonzales: Matthew Paul Bucci, Jared Anthony Cassard, Luke Gregory Hackney, Mason Ty Jones, Alexander M Lambert*, Emma Rose Lamoureaux*, Jesse Kade Landry*, Hannah Grace Mcquiddy, Beau Romero*, Gavin Michael Soniat*, Jacob Michael Stein*, Claudia J Wilkinson*
• Prairieville: Ethan A Babin*, Brayden Paul Barnes, Emma Claine Baumann*, Christian David Bock*, Maggie Catherine Brickey*, Sawyer Bruce Bufkin*, Zachary A Chaisson, Rylan Walker Coe*, Emily Christine Duguay, Sara Reese Gathright, Colin Beckman Griffin, Melanie S Jones*, Ella Lambert*, Toby Joseph Latino*, Kailee Z Lavigne, Evan Jacob Lawrence*, Alice Ellise Leotta, Kierstin Ruby Manly*, Abigail R Mathews, Mackenzie M Millet, David Walker Morrill, Sheridan Brooke Smith*, Grayson Barrett Toney*, J Bentley Unangst*, Anna Kathryn Williams
• Saint Amant: Camryn Elise Boldt*, Collin Alexander Franta*, Addyson Lynn Gautreaux, Skylar Ann Kobitz*, Judd B Rouyea*, Kinslei Marie Scroggs, Jacee Colette Spillman*
• Sorrento: Zealand Cook

Assumption

• Napoleonville: Carter Owen Landry
• Pierre Part: Reese L Burnett*, Eli Matthew St Germain, Cole M Sylvester*

Avoyelles

• Bunkie: Lucy Kathleen Clement, Ian Samuel Montalvo*, Abby M Ortego*, Timothy C Ortego
• Cottonport: Graham Michael Rebouche*, Isabella A Silva*
• Hessmer: Cole Scott Laborde
• Mansura: Joseph C Hayes, Chloe Elizabeth Lafargue
• Marksville: Spencer Brendan Bordelon, Camille Belle Coco*, Madelyn Elizabeth Scroggs*, John Philip Sibley*
• Moreauville: Emma C Moreau
• Plaucheville: Hunter Lemoine

Beauregard

• Deridder: Natalie G Burnaman*, James Joshua Cole, Grace Marie Eubanks*, Jeremiah R Eubanks, Braeden W Fordham*, Jeremy Aaron Fountain*, Jack Benjamin Granger, Daina Grace Hickman, Kaden Layne Lacaze, Katie Noel Lewis*, Kaleb M Luttrell, Presley Jade Myers-Vines*, Lynlee R Taylor*, Lexa A Thompson*
• Dry Creek: Kallie Dawn Pitre*
• Longville: Reese Reese Anderson*, Luke Charles Gisclair*
• Ragley: Chloe Marie Baumgarten, Landon D Smith, Mackenzie Grace Sonnier
• Singer: Maddi Grace Harrison*
• Sugartown: Kaelynn Kaelynn Kinchen*

Bienville

• Arcadia: Christopher Wade Caskey*
• Castor: William F Dison, Sydney C Thomas*
• Gibsland: Addison Olivia Smith*, Landrie Elizabeth Still*
• Jamestown: Ryan W Lee*
• Jonesboro: Leana Louise Dillon
• Ringgold: Michael L Kenny
• Saline: Kassadi D Adkins*, Skylar M Hough*, Mason Conner Scott*
• Taylor: Elizabeth Walker*

Bossier

• Benton: Jina Jolie Baffuto*, Mckenzie Grace Barker*, Naomi F Boothe*, Savannah Lee Brickner*, Kaden Patrick Brunson, Heather Buckmaster, Ava Diane Burrus, Daniel H Campbell, Emma Catherine Cox*, Claire E Cox*, Emma D Daniels, Nathanial Steven Davis*, Nicholas Davis*, Landon C Duggan, Madison Elise Enfinger, Ashtyn K Frederick, Mitchell David Gore, Kennedy J Halsell*, Georgia Grace Haneline*, Wesley Sterling Harmon, Emma Faith Hoffman, Kaley Jane Huffstickler, Jacob Adam Johnson, Hanna Kang*, Rileigh Erin Langston*, Benjamin T Maranto*, Jeremiah Cash Mcclellan, Kate Sophia Montgomery*, Emma-Lynn Amerie Nagot, Madison Ruth Perkins*, Seth Joseph Platt*, Makenzie Lynn Puckett, Emma Rangel*, Henry Riddell*, Aidan Jorum Roshto, Allison Rutherford*, Jacob James Sabin, Ethan Cade Stewart*, Mackenzie M Tanner*, Mary Frances Valentine*, Lauren Grace Wheeler, Aidan Elliott Woollen
• Bossier City: Addison Jayne Alexander*, Zachary Anderson*, Jade R Anderson, Kylie M Authement*, Elizabeth G Autrey, Kaylea Marie Auzenne, Kaleigh Grace Barber, Alysa Amjad Bayatena*, Ethan Michael Behrendt, Kenneth J Bores, Kristian Alayna Brewster*, Hayden Brimage, Mckinley Grace Brooks*, Anderson James Brown, Carson Hunt Carey, Luke Colwick*, Angelina Jessie Copeland*, Devonric David Corral, Miranda Elizabeth Crabtree*, Torey L Crockett*, Rachel Joy Davis*, Ty Randal Davis*, Aaron L Dewitt, Kayla Dewitt*, Kenneth James Dickson, Sam Dominick, Alan Michael Dreher*, Angel Mario Espinoza, Anna Grace Farish*, Bailey Young Felder, Natalie Nicole Fielder, Kate Elizabeth Fortune, Annabelle Marie Franklin, Steven Jacob Gilbreath*, Bode G Golihar, Jose G Gonzalez, Nathan Christopher Griffin*, Megan Victoria Grove*, Blake Guin, Kendall Sawyer Harris, Carter G Helms, Caleb Hunter Hemmings, Elena Heng, Elijah J Hill*, Henry Hoang, Julia Elizabeth Holder, Nikki Holland*, Caroline L Horton*, Elijah Heath James, Michael A Johnson, Emma L Kitchings*, Morgan Elizabeth Kleinpeter*, Isaiah Kovalcik*, Micah C Lamb, Alejandro M Lane*, Tawnie Breann Langley*, Grace Ann Lee, Caroline Grace Lee*, Cameron Brock Mccormack, Matthew Christian Mcduffie*, Emalee R Mcgrath, Cayden Robert Mckelvey*, Christine Meister*, Kara Mondello*, Anna Kate Montgomery, Kayla Elise Mosley*, Ally Jean Murphy, Sashnia Murray*, Madelyn Gail Neuman*, Annabelle Grace Newton, Savannah Ellyce Newton*, Briannah T Norman*, Mackenzie Lynn Nugent*, John Liam Opie*, Christian Erik Orozco, Haylee N Page, Nand Patel*, Hailey Anne Pontenila, Mehvish Kanwal Rajput, Jessica Jane Ramsay*, Ryder Andrew Rasouliyan, Lilyana Marie Reyna*, Lleyton Sanders*, Christopher J Sandoval, Hunter Barron Sanford, Alexa Ann Sanford, Andrew R Scruggs*, Elle Elisabeth Semmes*, Addyson C Smith*, Aleigha Michelle Snyder, Anna G Spears, Chase Lee Spradling, Madison Lucille Stengel, Kennedy Alaine Stevens*, Cory D’Adrian Strickland, Zachery R Strozier*, Aiden A Thomas, Jayden Rashod Toussaint*, Riley Marie Walden, Kathryn Ella Walker*, Evan Robert Wendrock, Cameron Ryan Westerfield*, Grayson Ballard Williams*, Garrett Logan Williams*, Kyle Edward Wilson
• Elm Grove: Aja Lyn Tellis*
• Haughton: Joshua David Allen, Ian T Armstrong, Joshua Lawrence Bennett, Mallory K Benton*, Madilyn K Boose, Taylor M Bourn*, Lindsey Elizabeth Bryan, Riley S Bryan, Wesley James Bynog, Abigail Castanes*, Kimberly Nicole Conley*, Catheryn-Margar Eliza Covington, Meredith R Darby*, Cole Michael Davis, Liam Richard Denehan*, Landry Broox Donaho Sr., Addison C Driskill, Jaylin Rashawn Ealy*, Payton Michelle Elwell*, Riley Danielle Flannery, Sara S Garcia*, Grace Ann Halcumb, Zachary Haley, Conner Harper*, Walker Daniel Hicks, Abbie Caroline Hooper*, Ansley N Houston*, Melody Anne Jeane, Connor Johnson, Abby K Kenner, Noah Gregory Lepper, Madison Virginia Lerch, Gabriel Keith Lewis*, Breanna L Mcclanahan, Landon Paul Mcdaniel*, Carmen M Mcglasson, Peyton E Mckinnon, Nathan Adam Mcknight*, Micah W Medicus*, Madeline Kate Milton*, Alizabeth Claire Mitchell*, Elizabeth Ann Morgan*, Danny Joe Moseley, Mitchell Sand Mosura*, Jayden Christopher Needham, Jesse Da’Moriya Normandin, Hannah Rose Norwood*, Jon Garrett Odom, Rubria I Olvera-Galban*, Avery Anne Pickering*, Jake Pieri, Carter Allan Pratt*, Norman Robert Pritchard*, Gavin W Randolph, Jonathan Rhymes, Joshua Michael Robinson*, Christian K Smith*, Autumn Brooke Stacy*, Jack Alan Weinreber, Sara N White*, Nicole E Widder
• Plain Dealing: Baylee Annette Craft*, Joshua T Miller*
• Princeton: Laiden Emanuel Broadway*, Rosalyn Leah Dobbins, Lola Claire Dunn, Caitlin Makenzie Harris, Matthew H Perry

Caddo

• Gilliam: Ali N Wilson
• Greenwood: Sarah E Dupree*, Jordan Lawrence, Helmuth Wenneker
• Ida: Autumn Correll Rodeheaver*
• Keithville: Holly Ann Eubanks*, Joshua Emmett Green, Savannah Jane Green*, Stephan Darnell Johnson, Cross Ryan Landry*, Dylan Mitchell Marshall, Aubrey C Mayo*, Ainsley C Mayo, Anna Elizabeth Milam*, Mikel-Ann Ricardo*, Parker K Smith*, Kaleigh Nicole Winterrowd
• Mooringsport: Surayya Lynn Jones, Kiera F Murray*, Skylar L Primm
• Oil City: James G Clifton
• Princeton: Diego Harian Medina*, Savannah Rae Ritchie
• Shreveport: Cole Douglas Adair, Daniel Alexander Aillet, Alex B Andrew*, David Allen Armand, Maddie Lauren Aubrey*, Chad Alexander Auchard Jr., Aung Aung, Caroline Grace Barber*, Cameron Altom Basinger*, Catherine Noelle Berry*, Joelee A Berry, Andrew Joseph Black, Madelyn Grace Bomar*, Lindsey R Bounds*, Cameron Paul Bradford*, Ryan Patrick Brandhurst*, Cayden Alan Brazzel, Molly Kathryn Brooks, Mary E Brou, Nolan Isaac Bruce, Ava Burch, Ean W Burch, Mary Helen Helen Burford*, Caitlin Reese Cantrell*, Emily Catherine Carr*, Julia Lorin Carter*, Korde Carter*, Genene Emily Carter*, Marie E Chance, Allen Chen*, Katelyn E Clark, Noah Christopher Colvin, Abigail Genette Cooper, Earvin P Cox*, Aaliyah Mckinley Davis, Andrew L Defatta*, Haley Shealynn Dennis, Seth Clayton Droddy*, Abigail Nicole Duncan*, Maddie Elizabeth Ebarb*, Shaderrika Xiandrea Edwards*, Ryan Andrew Eubanks*, Hunt Alexander Evans, Britton Dee Evans, Jadyn Ross Falls*, Kathryn Claire Fincher*, David O Fitzwater, Anna E Flowers, Zayda C Floyd, Liam Lance Fouts, Michael Cory Frazier, Jacob C Frederick*, Natalie Gates*, Harvey Edward Gorecki*, Jonathan D Granger, Hannah Grace Green, Aubrey Jean Greer, Priscilla L Guo, Hailey R Harris, Demario Harris Sr., Christen Lynn Hartley, Azure N Hays, Brayden Christopher Hermes*, Anniston Kristine Hidalgo, Stella-Marie Jo Hobley-Depestre*, Baylor Patrick Holloway*, Jace River Honeycutt*, Danielle Renee Hynes*, Cole Thomas Jackson*, Josh Andrew Jackson*, Whitman Craig Johnson, Daniel Allen Johnston*, Emerson Gail Jones*, Noah Perry Jose*, Kaden Lane King*, Laila Christine La Beau, Savannah Renee’ Lacoste*, Brian Sawyer Lacoste*, Hannah E Lafitte*, Emma Grace Lazarus, Jordan E Leblanc*, Katelynn Leeann Lindsay*, Nikira Trashel Little, Joshua A Luman, Kirk A Martinson II*, Barro Joubert Massad, Michael John Mathias IIi, Kari Ann Maxfield*, Lauren Marie Mccollum*, Marshall Drew Mccollum, Kennedi Mclemore, Emily Rose Mcqueary, Haley A Meshell*, William Christopher Metrejean, Landrie Claire Michael, Sydney Taylor Michel, Kyla Aline Michelli, Anna Grace Miley*, Miranda Joy Milner, Kayleigh Grace Mizzell, Emily Dianne Moffett*, Bristol Jeanne Moore*, Ethan Russell Morris, Dylan Thomas Morrison*, Pearce Mullins, Luke A Muslow, Hoang My Le*, Jared Daniel Newton*, Joshua Nguyen, Sutton Patrick Oathout, Addie Elizabeth Oathout, Kailyn Elise Oliver*, Kelly Konnor Oneal*, Amanda Grace Owings, Thomas Matthew Palmer*, Ethan Clark Paredes*, Kendall G Parker, Alexandra Grace Parker, Peyton Michelle Parker*, Damjan Pavlovic*, Will Kelly Payne, Kadence G Peal Jr., Vincent Alexander Peavy*, William Christopher Peeples, Cadence L Pennington, Kinsley Ann Peyton, Hayden H Phipps*, Logan Mack Pons, Elisha M Poole, Alix M Pullen, Thatcher D Ray*, Hunter Lee Rice, Claire Ann Rogers*, Mason J Sanchez, Shelby Anne Sanders, Izabella Lauren Sandifer*, Luke Yoshi Owen Sasaki*, Joshua R Scott, Angia Darneshia Scott*, Hollister Blake Shoalmire, Bobby R Simpson*, Madeline Rae Smith*, Anna Claire Smith*, Gabrielle Lyn Smothers, Lilian M Sobalvarro, Grace J Sohn, Charlene Renee Stevens, Jackson Daniel Still*, Hope Allison Stringer, Rebekah Joy Taylor*, Paige Avery Thomas*, Camryn Lane Thompson*, Kennedy Dewayne Washington, Khloe E Whittington, Elizabeth Nicole Whitton*, Lily Ann Williams*, Natalie Celeste Williams, Peter Williams IIi, Brice Brice Willis*, Luke Wilson Christopher Wilson*, Macy L Wolf, Cooper Deen Wooten, Annabelle V Wyss, David Yuetao Yu*, Danison H Zhang*
• Vivian: Briana Michele Ewald, Mason Reed Welch*

Calcasieu

• Bell City: Jeri-Kate Zaunbrecher
• Dequincy: Ashton Lynn Alston, Katie Lynn Cooley*, Taylor Gesner
• Iowa: Emma Catherine Istre*, Lana Lawrence Landry, Taylor S Talbott*
• Lake Charles: Kate Grace Austin*, Addison Grace Cole, Abel Todd Doyle, Timothy S Droddy, Joseph J Elliot*, Gabe Lee Foster*, Olivia Machylle Frazer, Will Robert Garner*, Emma Clare Gautreaux*, Mia Catherine Hanks*, Malia Noemi Hubbard*, Emma Jarreau, Aliya Kattash, Katie Lynn Kennison, Bailey Elizabeth Knowles*, Yolandi Kruger, Hannah G Lafleur*, Sydney Jane Lavoi, Edison J Leblanc*, Callie A Lechtenberg*, Jack Dalen Lefort*, Mia Grace Leger*, Amelia Anne Loewer*, Cody Jacob Lyons*, Sydney Camille Manuel*, Carly Elizabeth Osburn, Elijah L Palmer*, Everett Charles Patrick Pertle, Tia Deanna Reder, Ella Booker Scroggs*, Josie M Smith*, Sophie Elisabeth Smith, Madi B Stewart, Isabella Rose Tassin, Sam Kate Winters, Makenzie Mae Yentzen*, Coleman Joseph Zeringue
• Moss Bluff: Tyler Joseph Dougay
• Ragley: Aubrey Mae Hebert*
• Starks: Natalie Rayne Remedies*
• Sulphur: Leah F Alamond, Austin R Babaz, Olivia Ann Bounds, Lily Noelle Boyd, Sarah Kathryn Castille, Joseph Bradley Granich*, Ariel C Istre*, Samuel R Klenke*, Bryce Charles Labbie*, Abigail M Latour*, Emma-Scott Lejeune, Jylian C Mcfarlain*, West W Navarre*, Eden Brooke Nicholson*, Kamden Emmett Perkins, Gage Juliayn Gage Pippin, Abigail Mae Serice*, Avery E Simon*
• Vinton: Deion Andrew Davis
• Westlake: Sophie Grace Gibbs

Caldwell

• Columbia: Cameron Eugene Allen, Andie Janine Flint*, Billy Colton Kenney*, Rider Jayke Kimball, Mcguire*, Baylor Marie Russell
• Grayson: Zoey Rayne Prough

Catahoula

• Aimwell: Drew B Ferrington
• Harrisonburg: Julia Katherine Borne, Maddy D Campbell*
• Jonesville: Ethan Albert Clark*

Claiborne

• Athens: Nicholas Marshall Eikeseth, Ragan Elizabeth Penix*, Bryce Aaron Powell, Bri Ariel Wyatt*
• Homer: Patrick Thomas Garrett*, Connor Flynn Humphreys, Esther Yvonne Mason*, Alee Marie Spigener, Landrey Elizabeth Synco*

Concordia

• Ferriday: Chloe M Smith*, Khaden Ja’Ray Washington
• Monterey: Wesley W Brown, Ian T Dryg*
• Vidalia: Sarah E Freeman*

De Soto

• Frierson: Briley L Pendleton, Brooklyn Paige Tharpe
• Gloster: Noah L Dupree*
• Grand Cane: William Levi Bagley*
• Keatchie: Troy Brad Mosley*
• Mansfield: Kolton Lane Mcmellon*
• Stonewall: Mallory E Bogues*, Caden Harrison Britt*, Kinsley A Carney*, Cullen Penn Conly*, Ella Beth Cosby*, Jacob Ryan Cristler, Logan Thompson Enloe*, Sebastian Monroe Falls*, Logan P Ferguson, Lindsay Kathryn Fox*, Taylor Mason Guerrero*, Laney Elizabeth Johnson*, Kloe Elizabeth Kennington*, Skylar M Mccullough*, Jammeson Walker Mcintyre, Lael Christine Penner, Kate L Peterson, Natalie Marie Pierce, Conner Pierce Roberts*, Caleb Caleb Sanders, Parker Schimberg*, Tristan James Stewart, Emma Grace Winston, Landry Neill Wyatt*, Brock G Young*

East Baton Rouge

• Baker: Anthony Palmer, Austin Dakota Pearson, Luke Owen Robinson, Annabelle M Sheets*
• Baton Rouge: Sadie Marie Alello, William Barrow Alexander, Connor B Alford, Aaron David Allee*, James W Archer*, Emma K Authement*, Allison Snell Berry*, Claire Marie Blanchard*, Caro F Bookman, Maggie Ann Boudreaux, Ginny Routh Bowen, Emily G Breaux, Logan C Buhler, Drew Cate, Molly Elizabeth Coast*, Ethan Oliver Courter*, Abigail Elizabeth Crowe*, Caleb Wayne Davis, Madeline Delaine De Vries*, Brandon Dominick, Riley Ann Ewing, Natalie A Fairley, John A Feet, Madelyn Claire Fitch, Viviana Elyse Foote*, Brandon Ross Franks*, Caden Prescott Gardner*, Will T Godbery, Summer Elise Guerin, Amelia L Harrington, Noah Hodgson*, Henlee Grace Hoffer, Olivia Larkin Jefcoat*, Mackenzie Elizabeth Kean*, Katie Ann Kelone, Kace Henry Kieschnick*, Olivia Ashley King, Britton Wiliam Kirkpatrick, Grant Michael Kisner, Kaiden B Klock*, Kaylynn Bliss Knippers*, Madeline Grace Krzystowczyk, Blake Christian Landry, Cameron James Leblanc, Ryn Elizabeth Lebleu*, Audrey Ellen Lieux, Elizabeth J Lipe*, Hailey Marie Malik*, Katie Hope Messina*, Holden Charles Mittendorf, James Murrill, Kenzi Michelle Nannie, Paige E Odom*, Bryan Mcguffee Olsson*, Meghan Jade Peek*, Halley Elizabeth Perry, Jacob T Phillips, Kaitlyn Michelle Rahm*, Ryan Matthew Richard*, Randyl Marie Sandifer, Susanna L Shields, Christina M Simino*, Justin R Smith, Ethan R Smith, Lydia Kaylee Soileau*, Brennan Stuart Sonnier, Christopher Barrett Sonnier*, Christian S Sonnier, Peri Isabelle Sonnier Davis*, Anya Gail Stogner, Callie Grace Suadi*, Adele Grace Talbot, Max Vallaire*, Gus Mateo Van Haute*, Ethan Wagnon*, Matthew Karlton Weiner, Savannah Caroline Wilson, Grace Elizabeth Wimberly*Greenwell Springs: Chris David Denicola
• Greenwell Springs: Michael K Kravitz, Olivia Marie Thibodeaux
• Jackson: Tessa Marie Hay*
• Pride: Zacc J Landry
• Zachary: Ashley Lauren Brumfield, Elijah William Carr*, Mya A Claiborne, Billy John Deroche*, Brogan Lane Gibbon, Jay Gray*, Brianna Marie Hudson, Taylor Garrett Hughes*, Cobe I Johnson, Cade Christian Leblanc, Kaleigh Nicole Louque, Averie Reese Manuel*, Ryann A Mcclure*, Ainslie Leanne Mcnabb, Nicholas William Nalepa*, Rodrigo Enmanuel Olmedo*, Alexander Alexander Otwell, Jackson K Phelps, Michael Plaisance, Kye Aiden Poston, Parker Wellsley Robertson, Madelynn K Smith*, Zachary T Smith, Sean M Sullivan*, Alexander Christian Thompson, Evan Matthew Valliere

East Feliciana

• Clinton: Raeghan Lynn Cunningham, Alexander M Jose, James E Jose*, Lily May Richardson
• Ethel: Emmaleigh Ann Graves
• Jackson: Catherine E Hodges, Kaiden Major Lang*, Mckayla G Mercer*

Evangeline

• Vile Platte: Emily C Deshotel*, Cayden S Lee*, Allison Danielle Soileau*, Gracie Claire Vidrine*

Franklin

• Winnsboro: Lexi Grace Collie, Ben Luke Graham*, Madalyn Harris Lemke, Bram Nathaniel Mahoney, Tristen Makayla Newman*, Kaydence Michelle Rainwater, Aaron Lee Thompson*
• Wisner: Phillip Raynor Stephens

Grant

• Bentley: Allie C Brewer*, Grant Benjamin Maxey
• Colfax: Cadence Alyce Bell, Brady L Carbo*, Hayden John Wilson
• Dry Prong: Rayne Elizabeth Blake, Ethan Matthew Fralick, Jackson Tod Matney, Michael C Poe*, Ayden L Taylor*
• Pollock: Victoria F Baglio, Greyson Cody Brown, Joshua Dale Cerbus, Parker Gabriel Dubois, Grace Reanna Dubois*, Dayne Christopher Gary*, Christina Leann Lambert*, Grayson Trevor Lee, Lorin Anne Roussell*

Iberia

• New Iberia: Jasmine Arie Batiste, Paige Bourgeois*, Bailie Nicole Bourque, Austin Michael Dugan, Aidan Jude Romero, Sadie Ann

Iberville

• Plaquemine: Chloe Layne Smith*

Jackson

• Chatham: Faith Caroline Beamesderfer*, Shelby Lonnette McCarty*, Amya A Myers*
• Eros: Anna E Garsee*
• Hodge: Anna Beth Worthington*
• Jonesboro: Renae June Adams, Laila Presley Bougues, Kaylee Susannah Davis*, Kyleigh Davis*, Sky Elizabeth Dycus, Elijah Johnson, Jacie L Ledford, Makenzie Lowery, Serenity Ma’Royjanae Mallard, Gabriel M Mcmillan*, Zachary Joseph Sefton*
• Quitman: Olivia G Borland*, Baylee Lane Broomfield, Dorian Drew Curtis, Audrey C Duck, Maddie Grace Giddens*, Cameron M Hollis*, Elizabeth Faith Hollis, Aston Michael Johnson*, John Scharr, Ryan N Walker, James K West*

Jefferson

• Gretna: Brandon M Austin Jr.*, Ashley Lee Bybee, Landon T Carderara, Bella G Harvey, Preston S Jones, Samuel J Mcmillen*
• Harahan: Landon David Sequeira, Zachary J Truxillo*
• Harvey: Brianna Marie Richardson
• Kenner: Chase Arnold, Jose R Carmona*, Faith E Hammons*, Amelia Margaret Haynes*, Emily Rebecca Hopkins, Anquan Malik Milton, Henry Vo
• Marrero: Colin P Doherty*, Isaac A Leon*
• Metairie: Andrew Manuel Aguilar*, Shelby L Blalock, Jordan Rae Cobos, Sofia Olivia Gutierrez*, Keith Lawrence Kelly II*, Ashlyn Elizabeth Kihnel*, Haylie C Lambert*, Caeleigh P Miller*, Samantha Anne Phillips*, Adam Fadl Shokr, Sam A Siegel, Hannah M Toups, Emile Allen Van Haelen Vii
• New Orleans: Zachary Deam Dibenedetto, Zachary Andrew Drake*
• River Ridge: Joseph A Wells*
• Westwego: Kells Bush*, Emma Bess Plaisance*

Jefferson Davis

• Elton: Isabella Morna Leblanc*
• Jennings: Collin Joseph Achee*, Jacob P Dobson*, Michael Patrick O’Brien*, Jadon Philip Smith
• Roanoke: Jillian Hope Lantz*, Abby E Ortego*
• Welsh: Hannah E Givens*

La Salle

• Jena: Braydon Lee Callender, Wesley Christian Humphries*, Callie Grace Reeder*, Bailey E Wright*
• Trout: Abigail Elizabeth Reaves, Lydia Ann Smith*
• Tullos: Gracie Samantha Sinclair*

Lafayette

• Broussard: Samuel Allen Cook, Anaya Janae Cormier*, Kaitlyn Washington
• Carencro: Kaylin Ann Theriot
• Lafayette: Matthew James Aubert*, Cy Michael Barilleaux, Ash Aiwan Barousse*, Gavin Andrew Burns*, Princeton Cahee, Bryce Michael Dupre, Graham N Gaudet, Jacob P Guidry, Ava Angelle Jean-Batiste, Natalie Marie Leblanc*, Jesse Connor Llewellyn*, Matthew Thomas Martin, Graham William Mccarthy, Annie C Mouton*, Elise Adele Nichols, Laynie A Rivette, Lauryn G Simien, Mallory Grace Speakman, Brooke A Talbot, Samuel Joseph Vandiver
• Scott: Evelyn Claire Granger, Marianna Elizabeth Harris*
• Youngsville: Mickel Alexander Dupont*, Kathryn C Jones*, Emily C Landry, Reese David Montgomery, Ruthanne Reaux*

Lafourche

• Gray: Hilari Michelle Theriot
• Larose: Connor Joseph Collins*, Connor Joseph Fonseca, Corey Lau*
• Raceland: Lana Renee Verdin*
• Thibodaux: Quin P Bergeron*, Joseph Paul Boudreaux, Mary Clause*, Reece L Delatte*, Nyaleima Elizabeth Gbondo, Brandon Joseph Gros*, Luke Michael Guidry, Brennan J Henry*, Chaely Stinson Ledet*, Sydney Marie Lotz, Blair Joseph Robichaux, Jacob P Rodrigue, Emma G Rogers*, Lexi Brielle Steinmann, Gregory Paul Theiss*

Lasalle

• Jena: Maggie Jane Mclaurin
• Trout: Addie Kate Kate Sanders*

Lincoln

• Choudrant: Ella J Barr*, Bryton Breeding*, Donovan Chase Breeding*, Emily Claire Chance, Penelope Clair Hennigan*, Hunter Timmons Mckoin*, Tanya Mina*, Heather Lynne Murphey, Jadon Isaiah Newton, Blair Elise O’Blanc*, Noah Andrew Pitts, Virginia Ramsey, Richard Ian Starks, Lachlan Harris Thompson*, Trevor Steven Trevillion*
• Downsville: Johnna Brianne Taylor
• Dubach: Roselyn Marie Bennett, Atlis Britt, William Landon Byrd*, Madeline Elizabeth Davis, Jessica Austin Gean*, Franklin Isaiah Kelly*, Andrew Cole Maestrini*, Emma Love Pearce*, Mia Claire Rabb*, Jolee Anne Roberson, Haydn Mark Shoemaker, Haylee Belle Shoemaker, Isaiah Jake St Cyr*, Joshua Michael Thorson, Kenan R Withers*
• Grambling: Ty’Lan Chrishon Worrall
• Ruston: Joshua Chizuroke Akuma, Elizabeth Alberty, Georgia Albritton*, Garrett Mcintyre Aldridge, Chloe Sue Alexander, Hoss S Allen, Daniel Jacob Allen*, Yendri Cristina Alvarado Garro, Maggie Elizabeth Ambrose*, Gabriel D Amorello, Jason Lawrence Arena*, Katelynn Renee Arnold*, Avery Elizabeth Artigue*, Muizat Kehinde Ayoola-Abioye*, Chaz Aidan Backhaus*, Desiree Banda Tocto, James Carter Barnett*, Kate Barron*, Ava G Baudouin, Zane Christian Bayless, Brilanne Taylor Bays, Alex Bazzelle, Maygoal Sadat Behbahani*, Emma Claire Bell, Amanda Berg, William Jude Besselman Jr., Cameron Scott Blackstock, Kylee Grace Blackwood, Zachariah G Bleichroth*, Kaylyn Brook Brazzel*, Isabella D Breaux, Sadie Brooklyn Brown*, Isabelle Grace Burns*, Cade Thomas Calcote, Anna E Caldwell*, Mallory Grace Caro*, Tru Grace Cartwright, Bradlee Chebny*, Tanner Ward Clark*, Madeline Marie Clement*, Madison E Colvin, Bethany Jean Colvin*, Noah B Coody, Chad Daniel Cook*, Bonnie Elise Cooper*, Caroline R Cresap, Jacoryian Roymil Crowe, Gracie Daigrepont*, Matthew Steven Daulton*, Kennedi Claire David*, Alexis V Davis, Brooks Avery Davis*, Madison Dicarlo*, Wesley P Dinh, Sidney Danielle Doiron, Danielle Kay Dunn*, Abigail Clare Dunn*, Ethan Alexander Dunnam, Rylee A Dynge, Madalyn D Eagles*, Riley Edmondson, Meredith Marie Edwards, Sophie Edwards, Ethan Trent Ennis, Lauren E Ensminger*, William Estes*, Noah P Evey*, Alyssa Rena Ewing*, Hadleigh Elizabeth Fangue*, Timothy C Farley, Tate Mathewes Farrar, Zachary S Fendley*, Andrew A Finch*, Tyler Andrew Fletcher, Brooke Nicole Fontenot, Noah C Forester*, Philip Walker Forsyth, Summer Nicole Fortenberry*, David Brendan Foster*, Quincy V Franklin IIi, Turner Elizabeth Frasier*, Leah Beth Freeman*, Allison Virginia Furr*, Paul G Gaudet, Carter Gay*, Ryleigh Grace Geis, Gabrieal Gibson, Kieran Thomas Gilpin, Darbi R Gonsoulin*, Elizabeth Anne Goree, Walker Hagen Gray*, Jayden Lance Gray*, Mackenzie Gray*, Lily Kate Gregory*, Austin D Guillory*, Joseph Drew Gulledge*, Hiathem Hashem Hamideh, Grace W Harrington, Paige A Harris, Ian Tyler Harris*, Raegan D Harrold*, Jacob Harvey*, Elizabeth Grace Hastings*, Xander Roz Hebert-Thomas, Sarah Ann Hegab*, Luke Henry, William Edward Herbert*, Dalton G Herbert, Layla Elizabeth Hill, Jack Thomas Himel*, Alice Ann Holland, Jacob Nelson Hollis*, Brooke A Houdashelt*, Zane Michael Houston*, Logan Scott Hughes, Ethan Lee Hunt, Karlyn Alexis Ivy, Brooke Adria Jackson*, Thomas R Jackson V*, Taylor E James, Ava Elizabeth James*, Aryaman Jana*, Ty’Quarreion Jenkins, Dylan J Johnson*, Jacob James Johnson, Anna K Johnson*, Ginger Lee Johnson, Annie Machelle Jones*, Jordan Lynn Jones, Mamie N Jones, Timothy C Jones, Joshua Eric Kaffka*, Nikolai Aleksander Karpovs*, Lawson R Kennedy, Stephen R Kershaw*, Lauren Koertge, Morgan Kunath, Collin Henry Kyle*, Adrian Markham Lamkin V*, Jack R Lanam*, Abigail Marie Larrick, Grace Elizabeth Lassiter*, Bryce Le, Whitney Camille Leblanc*, Caiden Reese Ledet*, Hojun Lee*, Karen Elaine Lewis*, Savannah Rose Long*, Jacob R Loyacano*, Hannah Raine Madden, Cole Matthew Magee*, Cindy Mai, Abigail Madison Martin, Madison Claire Martinez*, Daniel S Mayfield, Cameron Scott Mccarthy, Hayden Reign Mcclusky, Morgan Anna Mccready*, Mckenzie Rae Mcfadden*, Jackson Mckinney, Keaton A Meese*, Dillan Scott Mickel*, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Middleton, Cooper William Miller*, Landri K Millsaps*, Jackson Henry Mock, Riley Atticus Moegle, Ashtyne K Monceaux, Anamaria Montes, Adrienne Montgomery, Audrey Belle Montgomery*, Emma Moore, Landon Alexander Moore, Clayton Cole Morganthall, Andie Elisabeth Moss*, Annabell Claire Myers*, Jordan Marie Myles, Brandon Nguyen Ngo, Joshua U Nguyen, Khai Tran Nguyen, Kadence Nugent*, Austin Nunn, Rylie C Nutt*, Joshua K Ogden*, Samuel R Owen*, Abigail Nicole Palmer, Jamie E Palmer*, Caroline Faith Parker, Emmaline Catherine Parks*, Riley Patterson*, Parker Mason Perez, Brooklyn G Perkins, Daniel Hilliard Petty*, Caleb Long Phillips*, Maci Picou, Haley Lynn Pitman*, Kristopher W Pleasant, Vada Janette Porter*, Micah Shane Pruitt, Sophia Marie Puljak*, Ellie Elizabeth Puljak*, Kara Celeste Pullig*, Liam Purifoy, Emma K Purifoy*, Luka Ratiani*, Hannah Rose Riddick, Hailee Elizabeth Rivers, Katie Paige Roberts*, Lainey L Roberts, Luke Robertson, Heather Simone Robinson*, Haley Elizabeth Roebuck, Bryce N Rogers, Olivia June Salter, Claire Vadeen Sanders*, Kaley Dean Savant, Aidan M Schardien, Emma Katherine Schmitt*, Reese Stetson Seals, Madison E Self*, Audrey G Seney*, Kailyn Mckenna Shipley, Tullie Jean Simpkins*, Taylor Grace Skapura*, Camdyn Jewel Slade, Zachary Lane Smith, Addison Snyder, Hunter M Soulie, Kinslee Alese Spatafora*, Anthony Michael Spence, Lily Grace Spillers, Reilly E Spitzfaden*, Preslea Kate St Andre*, Colby John Staffier*, Coleman Hollis Stafford*, Erin Clarie Stallings, Nikolai D Stanovich, Callie Stegall, Grace Kay Stepanek, Bradford C Stephens, Justin Brent Stokes, Taylor Reese Sunsin*, Katherine S Swanner, Karli Faith Swanzy, Alyssa Jade Sylvester, Trent Maddox Taunton, Antonio Rodrequez Taylor, Jacob Scott Terrell, Genevieve Kathleen Thomas*, Brian G Thompson, Emily Tooke, Jake Thomas Touchet*, Lily Kristine Townsend*, Lauren Anne Traczewitz*, Emma Grace Trammell, Kimberly Lanigan Tumey, Lyla Christine Turner*, Olivia L Underwood*, Gavin G Vallery, Amelia Rose Venters, Diana Ventura Perez*, William Davis Viator*, Ashley Elizabeth Vining*, Gabriel Rolly Walker, Leah E Ward, Kristian Mechal Warfield*, Thomas Washam*, Ryan A White, Lucas Tobias Wick, Makayla Amani Williams, Mynesha Williams, Matthew Griffin Yates, Lydia Ruth Young*
• Simsboro: Richard John Canterbury*, Lexi Castillo*, Andrea October Christesen, Michael Alexander Easterling, Noah Allen Powell, Emma Jane Reeves*, William Patrick Young

Livingston

• Albany: Allan Aguado, Walker T Poe, Ethan Arbis Woods
• Denham Springs: Emma Grace Allerheiligen*, Spencer Authement, Noah P Chauvin, Ava R Clark, Tony James Courville IIi*, Taylor Anne Czarnecki*, Lauren N Dodds, Davin Sean Donaldson, Mandolyn C Donohue, Nathan M Duke, Sophia Marie Esposito, Alayna M Felder-Fields*, Delaney Ann Ferris*, Beau C Harmon*, Anne M Hebert*, Brandon Thomas Jones, Will J Langley*, Jason P Mitchell, Logan Joseph Pertuis*, Ella Price*, Nicholas W Russell*, Sara Ann Schneller, Mia Schoen, Hanna Lyn Stout*, Laney K Vige, Dylan Thomas Watson
• Livingston: Emily Cecilia Armand, Beau Dominic Armand*, Mason Andrew Smith
• Springfield: Peyton Lane Ellis*
• Walker: John A Bergeron*, Jack Vincent Clark*, Isabella Rose Johnson, Garrett Patrick*, Nathaniel Markangelo Vise*

Loreauville

• New Iberia: Elijah Joseph Homan

Madison

• Delhi: Shyloh Ada Burns
• Tallulah: Alexis Janyia Carr*, Ziana Chandler*, Xandria Chantel Kline, Raylon Deshawn Larry, Howard Arnett Sevier

Morehouse

• Bastrop: Ali F Andrepont, Allie Catherine Eldridge*, Zoey Raelynn Fisher, Emma L Goss*, Joseph Blane Henson, Kylie G Mattice*, Elle K Morgan, Reagan Grace Patrick*, Alex Jacob Ricks*, JJ Caryell Worley Jr.
• Bonita: Mauri Laken Herrington
• Mer Rouge: Jon-Thomas Dixon, Akeyla Moneak Sanders

Natchitoches

• Campti: Elizabeth L Hightower
• Goldonna: Grace Caskey*
• Natchez: Karm Lee Ducote*, Jeffery Eugene Noel Jr., Laurel Pinckley*
• Natchitoches: Bj Below, Savanna L Braxton*, Jacob T Cobb*, Anna Catherine Coleman*, Molly Claire Coleman*, Brantley Elizabeth Gray*, William R Hillhouse, Ariel Dane’ Joseph, Anna Marie Mcclung*, Anna Claire Taylor*, Amos J Taylor IIi*, Olivia Catherine Walker*, Caleb Joel Weaver
• Provencal: Alyssa Denee Robertson*
• Robeline: Anna K Arthur, Louis K Clark*, Jesse Wayne Mitchell
• Saline: Jaydan Parker Williams*, Jordan M Williams

Orleans

• New Orleans: Matthew Gregory Baffes, Morgan Edward Hebert*, Kaden James Koffler*, Ella Jane Sheeley, Chloe R Wendel*

Ouachita

• Calhoun: Trenton Roy Colding*, Kennedy Kate Cooper, Natalie Marie Garnett, Jenna Mallory Hill*, Kathryn L Hodge, Kennedi L Lenard*, Anna Grace Lenard*, Lawson Tyler Lillo*, Alexis Laine Mcgrew*, Brock L Moore, Alyssa Nobles, Robin Lynnann Pryor, Alecksis R Roberts*, James H Stevenson IIi, Zach C Stewart, Ilena E Sumrall*, Tucker Tedeton, Logan Cole Travis*, Carson Glenn Weaver, Jesse Colton Webb*, Connor A Wilks, Gracie M Wilson*
• Downsville: Garrett A Deal*
• Monroe: Matthew R Albritton, Allie Marie Alexander*, Gregory Robert Allen, Alani A Ambrew, Noah Graham Bareswill, Micah K Bell, Taylor Anding Bentley, Jace Martin Bernard, Lillian Claire Booth*, Jasper Michael Brown*, Jariel Brown*, Mary Bryant, Hannah Elizabeth Buckley*, Katherine Adele Burch*, Madison Michelle Cherry*, Caroline Michelle Clary*, Jameela Janell Cloman*, Lakayla Ronnie Cooper*, Thomas Michael Deshotel, Anna Grace Elias, Abigail D Evans*, James Alexander Forte*, Anna Beth Freeman, Rebecca Lee Garner*, Caroline Louise Garrett*, Olivia Kate Goode*, Sophia Grace Greenwood, Grant Tolar Hanna, Anna Claire Headrick*, Sarah M Hendricks*, Lilli Mae Hilton, Annie Marie Hunt*, Wesley B Inabnett*, Keith Christian Johnson, Jameson Cade Jordan, Aliya A Judeh, Patrick B King, Jamiyah C Lenard*, Maddy Claire Lodgen*, Mallory June Mardis, Ella J Mcduffie*, Ella Trussell Mcgehee, Truman Mcnabb, Sofia Gonzales Menez*, James Oliver Meredith*, Dalton Cole Moody, Rabab Moqer*, Susan Marie Murphy*, Aniyah Lamechea Nealon, Jenny Nguyen*, Mckenzie Addison O’Leary*, Ashton Caroline Oswalt*, Warner Paxton Pace, Nicholas Aidan Parrino*, Christopher Pettis*, Samuel L Phoenix*, Nashaya Capri Puckett, Curdericka Rice, Jacob Lloyd Robinson, Susan Elise Rodgers*, Joshua John Roy*, Jadon Roy, Abbey Elizabeth Shelby, Anabelle Kate Shively*, Emily Rhodes Smith, Georgia Dianne Snellings*, Rachel Elizabeth Stroup*, Elizabeth Morlynn Swanner, Zoe Bradley Tugwell*, Caleb H Tugwell*, Will Guy Wactor*, Allison Marie Whitlock*, Eli Williamson*, Wilson Davis Yates, Adam J Young
• Sterlington: Brady Austin Badgett*, Susan Files*, Emory Cooper Leggett, Will Hampton Marble, Claire Leeanna Mckeithen*
• West Monroe: Austin Marshall Achord, Tabitha Aguillard, Cameron L Babusek, Jack Bauer, Alli S Beach*, Madison R Bernice*, Alyssa N Blazier*, John Christopher Branch Jr., Jason Dean Branch, Maggie Claire Brown, Matthew Lane Calhoun, Olivia Caraway*, Dillon Cardwell*, Lorianne K Clark*, Kayllie Elizabeth Coco, Mallie Grace Cole*, Kymberly Shaina Conder, Sarah Katherine Cook, Luke Thomas Corrent*, Kereston Gene Crow*, Saylor M Curtis, Dillon R Dartlon, Max Troy Debruhl*, Gracie Lane Demoss*, Adelle Catherine Douglas*, Laura Katherine Dupuy*, Grant Franklin Edmondson, Brooke E Everett*, Ashlyn Darby Ford*, Andrea Gabrielle Gegenheimer, Douglas D Graham, Courtney Rose Gray, Lauren Elizabeth Green*, Elizabeth Paige Greenlee, Nathaniel Louis Gremillion*, Isaac Gremillion, Kamryn Gray Gustinger*, Cassidy Hampton*, Abigail Elizabeth Hancock*, Myjah Kayari Harrison*, Travis Heard*, Matthew J Hixon, Kylee Virginia Holyfield, Makira L Howell, Trinity A Johnson*, Katy Nicole Johnson Jr., Zachary Pierce Johnson, Caroline Elizabeth Joslin*, Sylvia Kristen Justus*, Elise Lauren Kirkland*, Baylee Elizabeth Mabou*, Madison Taylor Malone*, Lily Marie Maxwell*, Abigail Kate Mccartney*, Madison Brooke Mcfarland*, Timothy Zane Mcfarland, Madelynn Bryce Mcfarland*, Charles Henry Mcgough Iv*, Joseph Carroll Mcmahan*, James Patrick Mcmahan, Chaz Eric Mcmillan, Tanner S Metzger*, Nathaniel Richard Mitchell*, Cole G Murphrey*, Emory Ellen Murray, Aaron J Norsworthy, Lauren Elise O’Neal, Landon A Ossman, Ryland E O’Toole*, Hayley Nicole Owen*, Alyssa Lee Pace*, Sarah Madison Painich, Jillian Lee Peacock*, Kate M Peacock, Luke Thomas Perkins*, Emilee Kate Powell*, Jayny L Ramsey*, Zuliana Issamary Rodriguez*, Anthony Michael Roubique*, Karissa Lynn Sherwin, Gail E Shumate*, Alex Neal Sikes*, Hannah Mckay Smith*, Emma D Smith*, Luke Aaron Spillers, Braeden Keith Stephens*, Emma Katherine Stockley*, Chloe Elizabeth Streeter, Kameron M Stuckey, Tatum Kate Thomisee*, Mason N Thompson, Ladd P Thompson, Callan Rayne Thornton*, Julianna Kate Wedrall*, Amelia K White*, Bryleigh Elizabeth Wickham, Kendall Marie Wilder, Alec Nicole Williams*, Ava J Williams*, Colby L Willman, Riley Renee Willman*, Amelia Jo Wilson*, Jace Mckade Worley, Hallie Grace Worthey*, Mason Jordan Wright*, Noah Robert Young, Amber Zitzmann*

Plaquemines

• Belle Chasse: Claudia Rose Becnel*, Jackson Paul Catron, Ethan Elijah Cognevich, Drew Michell Delahoussaye*, Owen Diket, Gabrielle Olivia Eagles, Milani Celeste’ Olin, Nico L Relle, Jenny Marleni Suazo Leiva
•  
• Pointe Coupee
• Lottie: Wade Wilson Roubique*
• Oscar: Elizabeth Dieguez*

Rapides

• Alexandria: Allie M Armstrong, Avery Jane Bandy*, Halston Drew Bowman, Brayden M Byers, Aaron Cantrell*, Marley Sue Carruth*, Anna Kathryn Chelette*, Parker Wehrle Constantino*, Jolie Kathleen Daigle*, Marlee I Daigle*, Elizabeth L Draughon*, Benjamin Thomas Eskew*, Jamal Sami Farhat, Traxtyn Nicole Finney*, Anne Marie Hebert, James W Herrington, Amber Renea’ Johnson*, Emma Grace Marlowe, Tucker Keith Mccoy, Taylor Moore*, Madeline Elizabeth Neal*, Jacob Ward Neely, Abel James Peterman*, Ethan Hunter Rachal*, Ashlyn G Riley*, Eve Marie Scheuermann, Anna Katherine Simpson, Jaquarius Jordan Singleton, Lauren Jacqueline Smith*, Savannah B Stewart, Emerson Catharine Stewart, Kylie Tate*, Corbin Daniel Ware, Eli Weston Watkins*
• Ball: Lane Keith Aguillard Jr.*
• Boyce: Garrett Irvin Hooker, Dylan Cole Lashley*, Evan Neal Layssard*, Katherine Emily Mathews*, Victoria Ann Stelly*
• Deville: Preston Blake Baillio, Madison Grace Kelone*, Oren Paul Lutz, Charles Jacob Otwell*, Madison Paige Price*, Cole Michael Richerson, Erin Roy, Laken Tyler Salard*
• Dry Prong: Coy C Powell
• Elmer: Ashton Cayde Schlotterbeck
• Forest Hill: Hailey N Jones*, Madison Morgan Ladwig, Spencer Caliste Nichols
• Glenmora: Jacy I Jones
• Hineston: Zachary Caden Howe
• Lecompte: Madeline Frances Buller
• Melder: Madalyn Brooke Townley
• Pineville: Kinzley Nicole Allen*, Joanna Arellano, Diego Arreola, Leslie L Baglio, Madeline Ethne Barnette*, Trent Robert Barton*, Micah Ian Bertrand, Hannah Elizabeth Blocker, Morgan Briann Bourgeois, Parker Edward Bruce, Aislinn P Cobb, Christopher Wilson Cole, Lane Cooper, Erin Elizabeth Cooper, Lauren Claire Cooper*, Lance M Dauzat*, Kaden Zachary David*, Benjamin Luke Doughty*, Christian Michael Dufour*, Parker Marie Elliott, Bailey Elizabeth Gallineau, Aleena Maria Gibbons*, Colton S Grimm, Paige L Hinkel*, Maygen E Jackson, Kaylee Anne Kessler*, Alexis M Koeppel, Emma E Lee*, Colby Aaron Littleton, David A Lord*, Gabriel Larkin Majors, Kyler Grant Mcneely, Aeva Mae Moore, Cilecia Neal, Gage Michael Oser*, Katherine Jeanne Riley*, Anna Grace Scott, Lauren Nicole Shepherd*, Annalise Virginia Strange, Jack Joshua Thacker, Riley Ann Thomas*, Annie D Tran*, Shelbe Leanne Trapp, Addison Nicole Twidwell
• Woodworth: Christopher D Canerday*, Amelia Grace Francis*, James Michael Hesser*

Richland

• Delhi: Harlea Emma Davis*, Audrey Caroline Finley*, Jackson Harrison Greer*
• Mangham: Ellie Grace Thames
• Rayville: Andie Noelle Allen*, Aaron M Cooper, Emily Rayne Garrett, Luke Allen Gibson*, Hannah Elizabeth Jones, Noah Riley Lovelady, Brenna Katherine Smart*

Sabine

• Converse: Sara K Osborne*
• Hornbeck: Cortland Wade Townsend
• Many: Jack Deville, Hunter Austin Walker*, Julia G Williams
• Noble: Lucas Reid Remedies
• Zwolle: Jamie W Ledford

St. Bernard

• Arabi: Andrew L Rupp*
• Saint Bernard: Russell D Kelly*

St. Charles

• Ama: Leila Narcisse*
• Des Allemands: Caitlyn Jaine Boudreaux*, Isabella Cristina Landry
• Destrehan: Kailie Dawn Carrigee*, Jacob Robert Carter*, Brandon J Fortes*, Douglas Naquin*, Brady E Pitzen, Gavin Reece Savois, Dwayne J Stein Jr.*
• Luling: James Grey Hoyt*, Emerald Ann-Marie Johnson, Annemarie Teresa Mcmillan*, Aidan J Schaubhut
• Norco: Sadie L Rochelle*, Jake P Steib

St. James

• Hester: Olivia Catherine Roussel*
• Paulina: Tytus Louque
• Vacherie: Noah Charles Folse

St. John the Baptist

• Edgard: Carter Joseph Chauvin*
• Laplace: Erin Elizabeth Powell*, Rinoa Kari Swancey
• Montz: Grant David Vial

St. Landry

• Arnaudville: Hannah Lynn Ogden*
• Church Point: Jacob B Southall
• Morrow: Emma C Dugas*
• Opelousas: Betchina Metellus Amy*, Sam Nicholas Chachere*, Audrey Elizabeth Primeaux, Tia Lashaun Taylor, Macaria Laijenae Thomas*

St. Martin

• Saint Martinville: Lindsey Michelle Doucet*

St. Mary

• Baldwin: Zachary D Hebert*
• Berwick: Andrew Louis Decondris, Grant Paul Hebert*, Lex Elizabeth Leftwich
• Franklin: Madison Grace Leblanc, Taylor M Louviere, Loren K Robinson*
• Morgan City: Layla Delyce Dupre*
• Patterson: Jacob Anderson Duval, Aidan Romo*

St. Tammany

• Abita Springs: Riley Christopher Hnatyshyn, Clayton B Welch*
• Bush: Jacob Clark Melton, Aiden A Plauche*, Leeann N Slade*
• Covington: Brooke A Annino*, Liam N Aucoin*, Walker M Badon, Cooper Edward Boling*, Aaron Michael Boos*, Avery E Bowers, Michael D Brookover, Abigail Elizabeth Brown, Samuel James Davidson, Joshua Kyle Hurlston*, Bryant Kuang Jee, Landyn Nikole Jones, Telemachus Rex Kilpatrick*, Emma G Lockwood, Ian S Mares, Meghan Marie Michel*, Carter Mahlon Murphy*, Christopher Patrick Roberts, Sean Matthew Roberts Jr., Matthew Simon Samaha, Chase Stephen Senac*, Jackson David Truitt, Emily C Vaccaro, Jordan N Williams
• Folsom: Adam Simon Glynn*, Erin Margaret Glynn*, Jacob Daniel Murray*, Michael A Sharp.
• Lacombe: Luke Stanley Leblanc*, Connor Anthony Gerard Rich*.
• Madisonville: Ruthie Benson, Jesse Michael Bertucci, Stewart Michael Blum, Gavin Michael Casey, Shelby L Crescioni, Emily Mae Marquez*, Daniel Joseph Roy, Nathan Sean Silvernale Jr., Kimberly Thompson.
• Mandeville: Nathan Christopher Anderson, Ian Arnold, Chloe Virginia Blache*, John Michael Borgatti, Shane Michael Cady*, Addison K Eck*, Jacob R Ellis, Morgan Kate Evans, James A Graham*, Hayden M Helmlinger, Thomas Christian Howell*, Reid Hamilton Jourdan*, Brennan S Kihm*, Evan M Leaber*, Matthew W Longo, Chloe J Lorca, Darielle Miller*, Claire Rose Olivier*, Lauren A Phillips, Kellee A Puissegur, Cade E Ruttley*, William Hunter Varnado, Fayrouz Mohamed Zeidan*.
• Pearl River: Peyton R Moschell*, Angel G Munoz, Hadley R Zimmerle.
• Slidell: Andrew G Black*, Owen J Brinson, Caden Saizan Duhon, Joseph Wade Estopinal, Isaac James Guidry, Connor Thomas Jackson, Jason A Kessler, James John Kingman Jr., Grayson G Lessard, Mia A Massel*, Thomas Raphael Meguess*, Emily Elizabeth Niemand, Rj J Poiroux, Cooper Jeffrey Rachow, Dillon Sanchez*, Oliver Zane Sarjeant*, Hayden Ross Savoie*, Lorraine Elizabeth Savoie*, Madison Elizabeth Slayden, Hailey Rose Smith*, Alex Yobani Soriano Leon, Aubrey J Stark, Sidney Tiblier, Gabriel J Veazey*, Cassie E Wingate*, Thomas Anthony Zullo*

Tangipahoa

• Amite: Nathan Battles, Kaylyn D Murphy*, Kaleigh Brianne Powell*
• Hammond: Trevor Callan Forrest*, Kohl Braden Garner*, Conor Bradley Montalbano, Micah Taylor Moskau*, Dominick J Schillage, Gloria Paige Tilyou*
• Loranger: Dylan L Burnthorne*, Ethan Joseph Falgout
• Ponchatoula: Hanna M Bankston*, Clarissa Keegan Haik*, Jenny Elisabeth Little, William Tanner Machen, Gabriel Allen Rivero*
• Tickfaw: Luke William Purvis

Tensas

• Saint Joseph: Easton Reid Michelli, Avery Davidson Vandeven, Philip N Watson*
• Waterproof: Olivia G Lancaster

Terrebonne

• Chauvin: Samuel James Martines*
• Houma: Conner Michael Angelle, Ethan Paul Blanchard, Cade Everett Bordelon*, Alexander Gabriel Cosky, Justin Michael Dufresne*, Raymond C Godail, Alyssa L Johnson*, Luke James Lapeyrouse, Dominic Joseph Leboeuf, Lawson Jude Lerille*, Rylie Nichole Malbrough, Brennan Matthew Martinez*, Emma C Moreau*, Andrew Spencer Nettleton, Isabela Rae Ourso, Bre Alyse Pitre*, Nick Ryan Sanders, Avery Rene Scanlan*, Kylee Anne Triche, Shelbie Lynn Witty*

Union

• Bernice: Colton Douglas Cooper*, Alexis Cheree Dendy, Abram Trenton Garcia, Brandi Nicole Jones*, Berner David Requena-Schaad Jr., Holden W Wells*.
• Downsville: Bethany Anna Bridges, Allie M Chapman, Jacob Randal Coleman*, Kaytlyn Grace Compton, Faith Kristen Evans*, Wendy Anne Hinton, Jeremy Jackson*, Lexi Alexus Jenkins*, Maci Rayne Jordan, Kaleb Jace Oliver*, Austin Trent Riser, Savannah Shay Riser*, Kayleigh Danielle Tedeton, Autumn Alyssa Thomas*, Liliana Torres Rodriguez*.
• Farmerville: Mia Claire Albritton, Sara Catherine Fine, Landon Gage Godina, Chasity Lynn Johnson, John D Johnson*, Brett Barron Johnson, Payton Lloyd*, Wendy Mosqueda*, Mattielin Grace Murray*, Hallie Michelle Parker*, Cynthia Abigail Post*, Julianne R Post*, Caroline Grace Scallan*, Kenly Anna Smith, Emily Frances Williams*, Jackson Ryan Willis*.
• Marion: Paul Christopher Lemoine*, Emmalyn Newcomb, Kate S Preaus*.
• Spearsville: Eric Landon Ramsey, Julia Catherine Rockett, Keturah Cierra Smith, Zoie Samantha Wortham*

Vermilion

• Abbeville: Analise N Barnett*, Meg K Touchet*
• Delcambre: Parker J Leblanc*
• Erath: Lexi N Casbon, Jayden James Cote’, Lilly Marie Leblanc
• Kaplan: Kelsey Elizabeth Falgout, Khloe Alexandra Milton, Michelle Angelica Montoya, Emily A Smith*
• Maurice: Ethan Guidry*, Morgan L Marullo*
• Rayne: Morgan Avery Stokes

Vernon

• Anacoco: Dylan Lloyd Longsworth*, Emily Madison Macdonald*
• Deridder: Jacob E James
• Evans: Allie Grace Wittenhagen
• Hornbeck: Dana Elizabeth Nolen*, Joseph Nathanael Nolen
• Leesville: Brianna M Bayer, Faith C Blakeney*, Luke Strauss Dupree, L Henry*, Caleb H Kiker*, Nickol Phuriphong Komsuprom, Leihliana Jean Mclaughlin*, Ethan Alexander Meck*, Jake Taylor Smith*, Alayna Corinne Stolfi*, Joseph Brandon White, William Thomas Wise III, Timothy James Wise*
• Pitkin: Levi Joshua Savercool*

Washington

• Angie: Andrue Dewayne Mcmillan
• Bogalusa: Caleb Andrew Worsham
• Franklinton: Mallory Michelle Bourquard*, Colby Douglas Comeaux, Seth Kyler Williams*

Webster

• Doyline: Debreanna Elise Durham, Hayden A Engel, Chase Sadler, Landon Cade Shively*.
• Dubberly: Liana Grace Gould, Lane Christian Ingles, Bradley Mathis, Whitman B Mcgee*.
• Heflin: Emma Rae Boyd*, Lloyd Jacob Chumley.
• Minden: Rebecca Lynn Balkom, Alleigh Ann Basinger*, Ashtyn Brittian, Aaron Todd Buffington*, Josh Damon Chandler, Emma Earnhardt, Addison Marie Fields, Caroline Marie Floyd*, Connor Jacob Heard*, Mary Evelyn King, Brandon Alexander Klimkiewicz, Kadyn C Mckinney, Tamandrick Shono’Keefe Moore, David Phillip Nida, John Robert Nida*, Cooper Parks*, Emily N Ramie*, Brosnan Biondi Smith Jr.*, Kailey M Sparks, Sophie Lynn Spillers, Elizabeth B Tuttle, Ella M Williams.
• Prairieville: Tyler David Feaster*.
• Sarepta: Aaron Louis Fuller*, Meagan Sydney Maxwell*, Abram Cohen Otwell*.
• Shongaloo: Luke Scott Vining.
• Sibley: Maya Faith Merritt, Jordan G Tanner, Hailey F Taylor.
• Springhill: Patrick A Farrar*, Brianna Sky Gahagan, Hannah Leann Huckabay*, Anna Eliot Orr, Jordan Patrick Orr, Angela Michelle Reynolds, Cloey S Rhea

West Baton Rouge

• Port Allen: Anthony P Denova*, Hallie Renee Lemoyne*, Brandt J Settoon

West Carroll

• Oak Grove: James R Clack*, Dixie Lane Corley*, Spencer Joel Foster, Braxton Hunter Guice*, William Kade Klink, Tara B Mcintyre*, Ellie R Owens*, Elijah P Russell, Matthew Ryder Strong*
• Pioneer: Jayden Deshawn Turner

West Feliciana

• Saint Francisville: Jacob Josef Barbosa*, Sara Kaitlin Barrow, Parker Joseph Bennett, Abby Rae Benton, Ashlynn Grace Culley, Joseph A Dalferes*, Jude Irwin Daniel*, Cade E Grissett, Savannah Marie Gunter, Lily A Holland*, Elisabeth Thy Hong*, Margaret Anne Lott*, Anna Maxwell*, Alexandra Kathryn Patin*, Abigail L Pittman, William Hatcher Ralph*, Blakleigh Elizabeth Willis

Winn

• Calvin: Emma Claire Canerday
• Sikes: Allison Kaye Frisby*, Jake Jordan
• Winnfield: Anthony A Adams*, Kaylie C Canerday, Parker Matthew Carlino, Barry C Dees*, Kate Ashlynn Dupree*, Harley Mae Grantadams, Annie Jean Heard*, Macy Taylor Hemphill*, Allison Kate Phelps, Lauren Marie Poole, James Micah Simmons*, Joselyn Stark, Alyssa Vanblaricum*, Amanda M Womack*

Alabama

• Birmingham: Tess Nowell Gardner*
• Dothan: Lee Michael Wycoff
• Jasper: Brianna Morgan Pringle*
• Madison: Kenyatta Lashun Mcneese Jr.*
• Montgomery: Christopher Grant Smith*

Arizona

• Gilbert: Aj John Ruetz
• Goodyear: William James Becker*

Arkansas

• Arkadelphia: Taylor M Dunkelgod*, Gunner F Johnson
• Batesville: My’Leeha Renee Johnson*
• Bauxite: Jesse D Oliver
• Benton: Tyler Cochran*, Kelsey B Greer*, Madison Walley*
• Bryant: Shelby Reyn Wise
• Cabot: Katherine Ann Holland, Gabriel Raul Monterrosa
• Cammack Vlg: Andrew Gavin Runkle
• Conway: Holden C Clark*, Chase D Glaspy*
• El Dorado: Cecil N Delphin Jr., Kale Webber Dugal, Jon Brooks Elia, John Dagon Ewing*, Noah T Haney, Wenhua Huang, Spencer Max Mcnabb, Zellie Lane Mcnabb*, Karol Joanna Morales, Riya Nicole Nelson*, Mason Reed Scott*, Kobe Maurice Shipp, Haley Renee Simpson*, Hollis Smith, Jadon E Webb*
• Fordyce: Steven Brady Johnston
• Greenwood: Kaleb Alexander Kennedy*
• Hamburg: Georgia Reese Cooley*
• Hensley: Lainey Kaitlyn Ray*
• Hot Springs: Drew Thomas Coker*, Abigail Joyce Dalton, Margaret Clare Dickerson
• Huttig: Carson Elizabeth Bain*
• Kirby: Samuel Vaughn Baker
• Little Rock: Olivia Marie Jablonski*, Jordan Japri Marshall*, Thomas Jackson Nichols*
• Mabelvale: Hunter A Oliveira
• Magnolia: Niya Imani Franklin*, Rachel E Martin*, Sutton Cate Pettit Nelson*, Angie Irasema Duran Saldana, Lauren D Wilson*
• Mena: Hailey R Emerson*
• Mineral Springs: Ashlyn M Hipp
• Monticello: Andrew T Wall
• North Little Rock: Gray Rene Neil*
• Rison: Eli A Franks, Elijah Wilson Rawls
• Sheridan: Cole Eugene Carnes*
• Sherwood: Ethan Brent Herbold*, Alexa G Jaglal*, Jianna D Morris*, Tess M Roberts*
• Smackover: Lucas Hinson Burns*, Caleb D Watson
• Strong: Macy E Eads*
• Taylor: Rocket Lee Smith
• Texarkana: Adrienne Suzanne Armstrong, Cameron R Gordon, Macy L Mclean, Cameron Michael Ytzen
• Waldo: Cade R Key*, Haygen L Smelser*
• Warren: Stone Mckinney Gorman*
• White Hall: Aaron Blake Taylor*

Armed Forces Europe

• Fpo: Ekram Mussa*

California

• Clovis: Duke Pascoe, Claire Elizabeth Raley*
• Fresno: Kaylee Ann Grealy

Colorado

• Black Hawk: Jonathan Donald Kolterman
• Lafayette: Alexis Faith Gilio*

Florida

• Bradenton: Jeffrey Wesley Dengler*
• Fort Myers: Christopher Wyatt Simoneaux
• Oldsmar: Cristian Enmanuel Blay Sr.*
• Sarasota: Collin Hughes*
• Pace: Samantha N Carrigan
• Wesley Chapel: Aubrey Reanna Harris*

Georgia

• Dacula: Demarko Lawler Jr.
• Woodstock: Thomas Patrick Wallace

Illinois

• Ashland: Declan Daniel Larakers*
• Palos Park: Arianna Ava Araujo*
• East Saint Louis: Nariah I Parks*

Indiana

• Arcadia: Kylee Alexandra Trexler

Mississippi

• Bay Saint Louis: Whitney Frances Wallace*
• Bay Springs: Harrison Cecil Day
• Biloxi: Brodie T Paige
• Brandon: Neely L Garret, Mary Lee Topik*
• Clinton: Nathan C Massey*, Taylor Laine Massey*, Emma B May*
• Corinth: Kenneth Ray Thames*
• Flowood: Ann Maris Ragan*
• Madison: John Gibson Gibson Eatherly Jr., Eli Hunter Williams
• Mize: Charles Bryce Lingle
• Natchez: Parker Claire Maxwell, Stephen Thomas Mcdonald IIi*, Lauren Rileigh Walters*
• Nesbit: Colton John Coates
• Petal: Harrison Blake Hooks
• Ridgeland: Alijahnique M Cain
• Vicksburg: Elia Michelle Browning, Samuel Scott Bunch, Rachel Aniela Dahl*, Christine Leanne Wallace*

Missouri

• Bertrand: Luke Isaac Nichols

Nebraska

• Omaha: Kaitlyn Lee West*

Nevada

• Reno: Karolyn Rae Glover

New Jersey

• Newark: Urijah I Williams*

New York

• Baldwinsville: Rowyn M Hall

North Carolina

• Stony Point: Stephen C Davis

North Dakota

• Grand Forks Afb: Celeste Elizabeth Caudill*

Ohio

• Chagrin Falls: Jenna Stretch*
• Powell: Seth Joseph Smollen
• West Chester: Alex Shewak Krause

Oklahoma

• Norman: Zoie Faith Epps
• Mustang: Tori Lynn Vascellaro*

Pennsylvania

• Devon: Caroline Virginia Masson*

South Carolina

• Columbia: Lydia Ann Daniels*
• Elgin: James H Sheffield

South Dakota

• Custer: Isaac S May*

Tennessee

• Millington: Rian Woods

Texas

• Alba: Kylie Grace Kleam*
• Allen: Nicholas E Cervantes, Grayson P Schnaible, Bennett Slaughter, Ian Arthur Taylor, Mackenzie Lea Wurm*, Autumn May Parr*, Sandy Sanderford*
• Argyle: Aurora Alexis Mccain
• Arp: Jaida Leann Jones, Hayden G Wright*
• Baytown: Reagan C Tapie
• Beaumont: Landon Morreale*
• Beckville: Hanna Elizabeth Elliott*, Presley Jo Elliott
• Bedford: Caleb David Adcox
• Brownwood: Chloe Gayle Hernandez*
• Burleson: Hayden C Becton
• Carrollton: Owen Paul Ellis*, Jacob Allen Von Tress*, C Von Tress*
• Carthage: Jose Guadalupe Deluna, Kylee N Ritchie*, Luke M Ward*
• Coldspring: Carter Allen Currie
• Cedar Park: Carmen Huggins*, Grace Danielle Luevanos*
• Coppell: Cooper James Shultz
• Cypress: Quynhtran C Do*, Christian James Hougardy*, Derrick Keith Moore Jr., Jordan Nicole Porter*, Eden Claire Smith
• Daingerfield: Natalie L Beasley*
• Dallas: Keeper Ann Rendon*, Jake Darby Riggs
• Denton: Annie G Meador*
• Dripping Springs: Jackson R Key*
• Euless: Aiden Daniel Yielding*
• Flint: Andrew J Barham
• Flower Mound: Evelyn Mary Goetz*, Boston Patrick McBride*, Max Alexander Ward*
• Forney: Madison Hays*
• Fort Worth: Emmy Marie Lay, Azalea Ranjeet*
• Friendswood: Abram J Sexton*
• Fulshear: James Anthony Beltran, Hudson J Pisani
• Garland: Mark Pugh*
• Georgetown: Kaylee Matic*, Zach Mazoch
• Goldthwaite: Aj James Wetzig
• Granbury: Drew Blain Henderson
• Grapevine: Lizzie Spencer
• Hallsville: Audrey C Gillaspie*, Margaret Marye Schirmer*
• Haslet: Coleman Zuehlke
• Henderson: Ashley Claire Jones, Kylie Elizabeth Langford
• Houston: Owen Patrick Herold*, Jacob Thomas Holy*, Robert Thomas Moore*, Adeline Leigh Moss*
• Humble: Katlyn J Baker*, Delaney Angele Lopez*
• Iowa Colony: Ashlynn Genevieve Jones*
• Jefferson: Brayden Mitchell Blair*
• Katy: Margaret Grace Bland*, Sam Nelson Daigre*, Dominic B Rosario
• Kennedale: Arthur Ray Harrelson IIi*
• Kilgore: Carter W Boone*, Kylie Mae Offerding, Aspen T Woodall*
• Kingwood: Seth Louis Standley, Isaac Wayne Standley*
• Kountze: Claire Elise Larson
• Lavon: Ethan Michael Tomsu
• League City: Julian Oghenekaro Oghomi*
• Lexington: Ezra M Esquivel
• Lindale: Jalynn Brooke Gateley*, Fiona K Turney*
• Little Elm: Mackenzie Hayden Oliver
• Longview: Isaac Kyle Adams*, Corden Asher Blount, Anthony L Holyfield*, Caleb Daniel Livingston*, Braden A Nickel, Kaylee D Read, Andrew John Roessner*, Kyra Lynnae Taylor*
• Lufkin: Zoe J Baker, Griffin T Willingham*
• Lumberton: Ethan Hansen, Sam Paige Schilling*
• Marshall: Justin Cole Watson
• Mckinney: Gavin Evan Crumpton, Matt Elliott Jorgenson, Katherine Marie Kirkpatrick, Allyson Layne Plaster
• Midlothian: Sarah G Debona*
• Missouri City: Jenna I Reid*
• Mont Belvieu: Sarah Franklin*
• Murphy: Annabel Isobel Moxley*
• New Braunfels: Kathleen Brigitte Edwards
• New Caney: Claire Elizabeth Howard
• North Richland Hills: Delaney Kassidy White
• Orange: Stella Hughes, Austin James Nichols
• Overton: Winter Elizabeth Curry
• Prosper: Carlie J Bowler, Evelyn R Paolo*, Timothy Joseph Wanasek*
• Richardson: William Crisanto Howell, James Andrew Predtechenskis*
• Richmond: Grace Clay Clay, Clarence D Smith II, Benjamin Robert Smith*, Riley Elizabeth Steubing, Yaser Ahmad Suleiman*
• Rockwall: Benjamin Addison Brown, Alexis M Buchanan, Allie E Buchanan*, Elliott James Finley*, Nia Alese Wiley*
• Round Rock: Lance Deweese
• San Antonio: Jiana Latae Stewartburgess
• Southlake: Madison Pensom
• Spring: McKinsey G Denney*, Daneal Yankai Findlay, Drew David Griffin, Cynthia Kay Langkamp*, Stephanie A Miller*
• Sugar Land: Claire Louise Garbarino*, Abigail Alyse Norred
• Sulphur Springs: Mattison Paige Buster
• Texarkana: Kelin Hunter Formes, Caleb J Neal, James Kyle Welch
• Tomball: Danielle Elizabeth Vanya
• Trophy Club: Turner M Fangue
• Tyler: Grace Elaine Cockrum*, Avery Elise Greer*, Joshua Reed Hall*, Rebekah Mae Miller*, Meredith Llewellyn Priddy*, Northey Allan Smith*, Kate Grace Thomas*, Jenaia Williams
• Weatherford: Avery Berry, Mollie Faye Wise
• White Oak: Jordan Crum, Jessica L Lowery*, Travis Wayne Oehlert
• Whitehouse: Jenna Ann Cagle*, Brealyn Michelle Lindsey*
• Wylie: Emma G Emmert, Carmen Mitchell*

Virginia

• Great Falls: Reese Torres
• Bassett: Justin Daniel Smith

West Virginia

• Hamlin: Ryleigh Jane Shull*

Wisconsin

• Menomonee Falls: Josiah D Meissner*
• Madison: Tobias Dufrain Rothman

International

• Angola: Augusto Arenio Bembele
• Australia: Isla Merle Airey, Patrick Rea
• Bangladesh: Sehat Mahde
• Bolivia: Valeria Encina Moreno, Rafaela Kiara Palma Zapata*
• Cote d’Ivoire: Rebecca Grace Goure*, Hebane Melatia Guehi
• Canada: Taylor Cassidy*, Maeva Costenaro*
• Cook Islands: Philip Mark Gray Jr.
• Denmark: Laerke Mellergaard Holst*
• Egypt: Hazem Amr Alsabagh
• El Salvador: Pablo Jose Saenz Mendez
• Finland: Niilo Matti Maki-Petaja*, Oskari Schuvalow
• France: Marie Jeannette Gagnant*, Nicolas Graux, Martin Meziere
• Germany: Madita Jolina Ehrig*, Luca Milena Rieger, Tim Rummelhagen*
• Greece: Maria Tsironi
• Grenada: Jamara Beyonce Patterson
• Honduras: Stefano Alessandr Lopez Cosenza
• India: Rahul Radhakrishnan
• Japan: Mio Kozaki*
• Mexico: Gabriel Tomas Jimenez Martinez
• Morocco: Fatima-Zahra Dardour
• Nepal: Samikksha Bachhar, Dikshya Basnet, Alija Bhandari*, Safal Jung Bhandari*, Hemant Raj Bhatta*, Lucky Bhlon*, Prakriti Chamlagain, Sujal Chand, Ayush Chapagain, Anush Dahal*, Anish Dahal, Pappu Kumar Das*, Lukesh Dhakal*, Aditi Dhami, Gautam Dhital*, Samrachana Gajurel*, Sushil Gautam*, Melina Ghale*, Ashish Ghimire, Krish Gurung, Debesh Hamal*, Bishal Kandel, Sujal Karna*, Aayush Kumar Kc, Sunita Khadka*, Anuma Khanal*, Bibek Khanal*, Samip Koirala*, Rani Kunwar*, Dechen Lama, Sadiksha Lamsal*, Samrageey Lohani, Nikesh Mainali Sr., Amisha Mugrati, Rashik Nepal, Prapti Nepal*, Prashant Neupane*, Rojin Oli, Kritika Pandey*, Ichchha Panta Jr., Shruti Pokharel*, Prabesh Poudel, Ankit Poudel*, Nilima Rai*, Dilip Ranabhat*, Dipesh Bikram Shah*, Avishek Sharma, Roshika Shrestha*, Upasana Singh, Dipesh Subedi*, Phurba Tamang, Ayush Thapa, Purnika Thapa, Srijan Timsina*
• Nigeria: Fouad Oladejo*
• Pakistan: Syed Hassaan Bukhari*
• Singapore: Rachel Ong*
• Spain: Chingizkhan Nurbolatov Yankolov*
• United Kingdom: Alice Brook
• Vietnam: Bao Tram Lai

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Courtesy of GSU Communications

Miller said that with their diplomas, the graduates have been prepared to take on the world.

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By Kyle Roberts

It was freezing cold late in the night when LPJ Co-Publisher Malcolm Butler and I walked down the steps of Hoss Garrett Stadium following Ruston’s drumming of Destrehan 44-7 early in December, earning a third consecutive trip to the Super Dome and a chance to repeat as state championships for the first time in school history.

On the track, still bundled up in his black Ruston jacket and gloves was Bearcat head coach Jerrod Baugh and offensive line co-coach Bryan Beck — all by themselves rolling electrical cords to help clean the stadium after the game.

It was a sight that could give a visiting journalist pause: what is the head coach of a championship-level program doing cleaning up the track and not in his office breaking down Central High film for the title game?

Well, if you know Jerrod, you know that’s not how he “rolls.”

“I just don’t know another way,” he said later that following week about doing the small things. “It’s not in my nature to watch someone else do something like that.”

I’ve been covering Ruston High football for the LPJ for the last four seasons, and in the broadcast booth, it’s been fourteen total. Jerrod has just wrapped up his eighth season as head coach for Ruston High School. And when I was asked last week by Aaron Dietrich on “The Morning Drive” about Jerrod’s fit in Ruston, my answer was emphatic: we’re incredibly lucky to have someone like Jerrod as the head coach for Ruston High.

Now, trust me: like you, I watched Saturday’s performance in New Orleans. I sat in Booth Nine at the top of the Caesar’s Super Dome — shell-shocked like so many fans in the seats dozens of feet below. The final score of the State Championship was not something I could have concocted in my worst sports nightmare scenario.

But I didn’t have to stay in that mental space long after I thought back to the Friday night after the semifinal victory: what truly matters is what Jerrod does outside any football game, win or lose.

One of the great things about watching someone be successful in their element is noticing the small things that keep the flame lit. No doubt, Jerrod has done some incredible things at the helm of the Ruston High football program in the decade he’s been here. But if the sun rises and sets solely on wins and losses, then we’ve all missed the magic.

I’ve watched Jerrod roll electrical cords, deliver food to the press box, and zip-tie signs to the handicap section of Hoss Garrett Stadium — all of these either before or after an important football game. While these are just snapshots in time from my own perspective, I know for a fact teachers, administrators, and students from Ruston High all have their own stories of what he does behind the scenes. 

Is any coach perfect? Of course not. None of us are.

But watching Jerrod do the small things makes me realize that he genuinely cares. Not every coach can say that.

I’ll say the quiet part out loud: I had hoped to run this column Saturday after a second-straight state championship victory. Obviously, it would not have felt appropriate after last Saturday’s final score in the Super Dome.

Or, in retrospect, maybe it would have.

At the end of the day, a true champion, and not just on the football field, models how to be successful no matter what the score looks like at the end of the ballgame. And those things that champions do often happen out of sight from the public eye when no one else is around.

Dr. Henry Cloud define the term “integrity” as “the courage meet the demands of life.” In Jerrod’s role as football coach for the historic program that is Ruston High School, that requires winning. But equally, it requires helping lead growing boys into becoming men — men that will be successful in life once the pads are hung back in the locker room for the last time.

Dr. Cloud also talks about the concept of “the wake” (think what a motor boat leaves behind in the water) that a leader leaves as he moves forward. Some leaders can only be successful at the task at hand, while stepping on other people in the process. Or some leaders care deeply about the people while being unable produce results. Jerrod has done both.

I think we all need to remember how lucky we are: in the long list of coaches at Ruston High School in over one hundred years, we certainly have one of the best. We didn’t need the 2024 Non-Select, Division I State Championships to tell us that he, his staff, and his kids are champions. It’s all over the program that he coaches and cares for on a day-to-day basis.

So the next time you see someone doing something you might think is a mundane task, maybe stop and say thanks. The great ones understand there’s always some bigger behind “rolling the electrical cords.”

Jerrod, thank you for how you’ve led our team, but more importantly, thank you for serving as a model for how to be successful, both on the field and off.

For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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Former Bossier City Police Deputy Chief Arrested for Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile

Caddo Parish – In January 2023, the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations/Bossier Field Office received information regarding allegations of malfeasance in office involving a former Deputy Chief with the Bossier City Police Department. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 57-year-old Richard McGee of Shreveport.

Investigators learned that McGee committed the crime of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile with at least one victim from 1994 to 1999. As a result of the investigation and information obtained, an arrest warrant was obtained through the 1st JDC, charging McGee with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. At approximately 11:00 a.m. today, McGee was arrested and booked into the Caddo Correctional Center on the above charge.

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Fleeing shoplifter caught by police
 
A 36-year-old man resisted Grambling police officers who attempted to arrest him for a shoplifting at a local store last week.
 
Darius Marquel Washington of Oxon Hill, Maryland was arrested about 2:45 p.m. on December 13 after an officer spotted him near the Dollar General store where the shoplifting occurred.
 
Grambling Police were told a male shoplifter had left the store. He was described as wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans, and gray shoes. An officer saw a man matching the description carrying a gray comforter and a pillow.
 
When the man was asked for identification, he refused to provide any, saying he didn’t know his name or date of birth. He attempted to walk away and officers had to take him down to handcuff him.
 
When officers viewed surveillance video at the Dollar General store, Washington was seen grabbing a comforter, pillow, and other items and running out of the store. The manager said the suspect had been directed to leave the store earlier in the day for loitering in the parking lot and panhandling.
 
The suspect eventually identified himself. Washington was found to be wanted on a warrant from Arlington, Texas, but authorities would not extradite from another state. He was booked at Lincoln Parish Detention Center with bail set at $12,500.

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By Kyle Roberts

LAFAYETTE, La. — Ruston High School’s Cheer Squad took first place Sunday at the Universal Cheerleaders’ Association Louisiana Regional Meet in the Medium Varsity Game Day Section.

It was the same event Ruston High won back in its November meet in Texas.

“We are really proud of these girls,” Ruston High Spirit Group Coordinator Collin McDonald said. “They put in a lot of hours the past few weeks doing community events and extra events getting ready for state with football. Then after the game and having a quick turnaround you worry about their focus and energy levels but they took care of business and did what they needed to do to get the win.

“We still have a lot of work to do before February and with basketball season getting into full gear there’s still a lot of things to balance but so far they’ve handled everything we’ve thrown at them.”

The win helped Ruston High receive another bid to the National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Fla., in February. Last year, Ruston High finished second last season.

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by Malcolm Butler

Sean Newman is old school.

The Louisiana Tech junior point guard thinks pass first, pass second, and then sometimes shot third.

On Monday night in the Thomas Assembly Center, Newman played a little out of character as the Los Angeles native scored a career-high 25 points to lift Louisiana Tech to a 74-66 win over defending WAC champion Grand Canyon.

Newman, who also recorded nine assists in the game, hit 8-of-16 field goals, 3-of-6 three-pointers and 6-of-8 free throws as he surpassed his previous career-high of 19 points set against WKU last season.

With Tech (10-2) clinging to a 65-64 lead with three minutes to play, Newman saved some of his best for last. With the shot clock running down, he drained a 25-foot 3-pointer to push the advantage to 68-64 with 2:44 to play.

After GCU’s Jakobe Coles cut the deficit to 68-66 with a pair of free throws, Newman drove down the lane and hit a tough layup in traffic with 1:13 remaining to make it 70-66.

On the following possession, he drove into the lane and fed Kaden Cooper with an ally-oop pass that Cooper threw home for the exclamation mark. Newman then added two free throws with 11 seconds to play to seal the victory.

“He is the point of attack,” said Tech head coach Talvin Hester. “Him being the point of attack helps everybody. He still spread the ball around with nine assists.

“He knew he had to score tonight because they were playing off of him. They were trying to take the lob away from Batcho. He knew he had the opportunity to go to the rim and get some baskets. We were excited about that opportunity.”

In a game that saw seven lead changes and six ties, Tech used an early 13-0 run to grab an 11-point advantage as the Bulldogs connected on their first five shots of the game, including three three-pointers.

However, Daniel Batcho was called for his second foul of the first half with 12 minutes remaining before halftime and the preseason CUSA Player of the Year sat for the rest of the half. With Batcho on the bench, GCU pulled down 13 offensive rebounds and converted them into 20 second chance points to give the Lopes a 33-32 halftime lead.

“When Batcho is on the floor, we are better,” said Hester. “After that second foul, we took him out of the game. But I give kudos to Will Allen and Sean Elkinton for coming in and keeping the game close and helping us out.”

Tech took the lead for good early in the second half as Newman hit a jumper to put the Bulldogs up 41-39 with 15:40 to play. With the Bulldogs leading 47-46 with 11 minutes to play, Tech used a 12-0 run highlighted by three-pointers by Amaree Abram and Newman and a pair of dunks by Batcho to extend the advantage to 59-46 with 7:41 to play.

GCU would eventually whittle the deficit back down to one, setting up the final three minutes where the Bulldogs were able to execute for the win.

“The stops is what got us the win,” said Hester. “They came down and we got two stops and made them miss. Once we made them miss we were patient on offense. I thought that’s what gave us the chance to win.”

Batcho added 19 points and seven rebounds while Abram scored 15 points, including 3-of-6 from the three-point line.

Tech will host Rusk College Saturday at 3 p.m. in the final non-conference contest of the season.

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MANDEVILLE, La. – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) are pleased to announce the 2025 grant recipients of the KLB Clean Biz Chamber Grant and the KLB Community Affiliate Program Grant, promoting KLB’s litter prevention programs on the local level. KLB has awarded $125,000 in grants to 25 organizations in 19 parishes.

“These grants will give KLB’s Community Affiliates and partner chambers of commerce the support they need to implement outcome-based litter prevention programs on the local level,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “It takes all of us working together to make a dent in our state’s litter problem. I want to thank everyone who has rolled up their sleeves to clean up Louisiana.”

“KLB provides tools and resources to support clean and beautiful communities,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “We are pleased to provide these grants and look forward to seeing the lasting impact they’ll have.”

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The Clean Biz Chamber Grant will award $5,000 to each chamber recipient. Chambers will recruit new Clean Biz partners, promote the Clean Biz Partnership, and engage chamber members in keeping their businesses litter-free and well-maintained. To learn more about how businesses can join on the Clean Biz Partnership webpage.

The Community Affiliate Program Grant will award $5,000 to each KLB Community Affiliate recipient to amplify their efforts to engage businesses, stakeholder organizations, and individuals in KLB programs designed to prevent litter. Community Affiliates will promote the Clean Biz Partnership, Love the Boot Week, KLB’s youth educational resources, the Let Louisiana Shine litter prevention campaign, Get Down & Clean Up, and Put the Brakes on Litter.

Grant recipients by parish include:

Bossier Parish
Bossier Chamber of Commerce
Keep Bossier Beautiful

Calcasieu Parish
Chamber SWLA/SWLA Economic Development Alliance

DeSoto Parish
Keep DeSoto Beautiful

East Baton Rouge Parish
Keep Baker Beautiful

Jefferson Parish
Keep Jefferson Parish Beautiful

Jefferson Davis Parish
Jefferson Davis Parish Chamber of Commerce

Iberville Parish
Iberville Chamber of Commerce

Lafourche Parish
Keep Lafourche Beautiful

Livingston Parish
Keep Livingston Beautiful

Orleans Parish
Keep Algiers Beautiful
New Orleans Chamber of Commerce

Ouachita Parish
Keep West Monroe Beautiful
West Monroe/West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce

Pointe Coupe Parish
Greater Pointe Coupee Chamber of Commerce

Rapides Parish
Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce

St. James Parish
Keep St. James Beautiful

St. Landry Parish
Keep Eunice Beautiful
St. Landry Chamber of Commerce

St. Martin Parish
St. Martinville Chamber of Commerce

St. Tammany Parish
Keep Abita Beautiful
Keep St. Tammany Beautiful

Tangipahoa Parish
Keep Hammond Beautiful
Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce

Webster Parish
Springhill North Webster Chamber of Commerce

For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

Baton Rouge – Sunday afternoon, 52 men and women of Cadet Class 106 embarked on the beginning of their careers as Louisiana State Police Troopers. Cadet Class 106 will be a will be a traditional 24-week academy, equipping Cadets with the necessary skills to fully prepare for a career of public service to the residents of Louisiana. As others before it, this class will add to the rich State Police history dating back to 1922.

While challenging, day one for the Cadets is about taking the next step to serve the residents and visitors of our state. To succeed in a career as a Louisiana State Trooper, Cadets will receive State Police training in areas such as defensive tactics, advanced firearms, emergency vehicle operations, civil unrest, ethics, fair and impartial policing, use of force and de-escalation, impaired driving detection, civil rights, and criminal and traffic law. Once they successfully complete each training course and practical application, they will graduate from the LSP Academy on May 30, 2025.

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Cadet Class 107 is scheduled to begin in June 2025, and LSP is currently still accepting applications from those interested in pursuing a career to become a Trooper. Applicants and interested individuals can follow all recruiting announcements at https://www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePoliceRecruiting/.

LSP offers competitive pay and benefits, a take-home state vehicle, opportunities for overtime, and an incredible retirement package. Visit www.JoinLSP.org for more information on the hiring process, qualifications, physical fitness standards, and frequently asked questions. For additional questions and information, please contact LSP Recruiters at LSPRecruiting@la.gov or Text “JoinLSP” to 225-777-8162.

For applicants not meeting LSP minimum qualifications, immediate positions are available within the Louisiana Department of Public Safety Police through the Louisiana State Civil Service System. Visit https://www.lsp.org/about/leadershipsections/support/dpspolice/ and http://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov for more information.

For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Scott Mattera has been named the 11th head coach of the Louisiana Tech volleyball team, Louisiana Tech Vice President and Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey announced on Monday.

Mattera comes to Ruston after spending the last six seasons at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, where he compiled a 113-42 overall record including a 70-8 record in conference.

“I am excited to welcome Scott to Louisiana Tech and Ruston,” said Ivey. “During this search, we sought to find a leader with strong connections in recruiting, success in building competitive, sustainable programs, strong player development skills, and the ability to communicate effectively to all involved with our program. Scott has a strong track record of success in all those characteristics.”

Mattera became OLLU’s all-time wins leader on Oct. 5, 2024, when the Saints defeated Jarvis Christian. The following weekend, he reached 200 career wins in two sweeps of Louisiana Christian.

“I am beyond excited for the opportunity that Ryan Ivey and Louisiana Tech is giving me,” Mattera said. “Their trust that I can come in, connect with our players, and build a championship culture on and off the court means the world to me. I can’t wait to get to Ruston to meet our young ladies, learn about their dreams, and begin to share with them my vision for Bulldog Volleyball!”

Over the course of his six seasons in San Antonio, Mattera guided the Saints to four consecutive regular-season Red River Athletic Conference championships and two tournament championships. His teams reached the RRAC Tournament Championship match all six years he was there.

“He is extremely passionate about teaching and developing student-athletes into successful people, which is evident through his “More than Wins” business and social content creation,” Ivey said. “He has a great positive, energetic outlook and I know he is the right person at the right time for Louisiana Tech volleyball.”

In addition to his duties at OLLU, Mattera was heavily involved with the Alamo Volleyball Club, coaching their top 17’s teams and leading setter training for the club. In his past three seasons with Alamo, his teams produced 32 NCAA Division 1 athletes and qualified for the open division of nationals twice.

Before OLLU, Mattera spent six seasons as the head coach at Concordia University-Nebraska from 2012-2017, helping the Bulldogs advance to the program’s first-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2015 while earning Great Plains Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors.

Mattera came to Concordia after serving as the top assistant coach at Montreat College in Montreat, N.C. He helped guide the Cavaliers to a 25-14 record in 2011 and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. In addition to coaching at Montreat, Mattera assisted with game management and taught in the sports management department.

Prior to Montreat, Mattera was a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Toledo during the 2010 season. During his one season with the Lady Rockets, Toledo upset the University of Michigan and Creighton. Mattera also helped guide the Lady Rockers to a straight-set upset over top-seeded Ball State in the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

Mattera holds a decorated coaching history in the Ohio high school ranks. He began his career in 2002 as the JV coach of St. Ursula Academy. In two years, he compiled a record of 44-3, winning back-to-back city championships. After taking a year off to open Synergy Sports and Fitness, Mattera returned to high school coaching as the head coach at Notre Dame Academy from 2005-10. In just his second year with the Notre Dame Academy, the Eagles knocked off St. Ursula, ending their 139-match winning streak.

Notre Dame Academy went on to win back-to-back city championships in 2007 and 2008 and won the district in 2007, the first in school history. Mattera was awarded the City League and District Coach of the Year in 2006 & 2007, and his teams were consistently ranked in state and national polls. During his time at Notre Dame Academy, the Eagles produced five Division-1 college athletes and numerous D2, D3, NAIA, and NJCAA recruits.

Mattera earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Toledo in 2001, graduating with honors while also playing for the men’s club volleyball team. He earned a master’s degree in liberal studies with a focus on the sociology of sport, also from Toledo.

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech’s AJ Bates was voted as the Conference USA Freshman of the Week, announced by the league office Monday.

Bates saw his production increase this past Friday as the freshman guard played a season-high 24 minutes in the 77-63 victory over Georgia Southern.

The Houston, Texas native went on to score a season-high 10 points, going 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, while also registering three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Bates had a team-best +19 plus/minus and made two big plays in the game, hitting a corner three-pointer to put LA Tech up, 53-52, and diving for a loose ball that led to a layup for the Bulldogs to extend their 13-0 run and pull away from the Eagles in the second half.

This is the first CUSA weekly honor for Bates and the first Bulldog to receive this award since Jordan Crawford in 2023. Overall, he is the eighth Bulldog to be named CUSA Freshman of the Week.

Bates and the Bulldogs play host to Grand Canyon tonight at 6:30 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.

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A Celebration of Life service for Vondee Burton, 71, will be held at 3:00 P.M., Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at Lincoln Parish Park. Rev. Taff Watts will officiate.

Vondee was born on May 7, 1953 and went to be with the Lord on December 13, 2024 in Ruston, Louisiana. Her joy in life was being with her family, fishing and growing plants in her garden. You could always find her sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee in her hand watching the birds and talking to her grandbabies. She had a devout love for the Lord and would share it with anyone who would listen. Vondee is preceded in death by parents, Robert Maxie Burton and Audrey Bush Burton; brothers Richard Burton, Tom Burton, Willie “Frank” Burton, Ronnie Burton; sisters Betty Bass, Doris Stem, Lavon Kelly, and Lenora Chiasson.

Vondee is survived by daughters, Deana Hoenke and husband Jody, Brandy Stephens; grandchildren, James Mobley and wife Hannah, Jessica Mobley, Destiny Stephens, Sarah Hoenke, Aaron Hoenke and wife Kaylyn, Jonah Hoenke; great-grandchildren, Piper, Brooke, Sophia, Dawson, Magnolia; brothers, R.N. Burton and Reggie Burton; sisters, Elaine Gilbert and Bess Burton; numerous nieces and nephews; and other extended family and friends.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Allegiance Hospice, especially nurse Kim and social worker Maggie.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

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Victoria Ellen Jones Fallin 
Dec. 10, 1942 — Dec. 14, 2024 
Visitation: 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer 
Service: 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer 

Vondee Burton 
May 7, 1953 – December 13, 2024 
Service: Lincoln Parish Park, Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 3:00 pm 

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Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

The Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB) at Louisiana Tech University recently signed a continuing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB) ensuring its students have ongoing access to high-quality, rehabilitation services.

Through its partnership with the LCB and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the PDRIB provides access to cutting-edge rehabilitation services and connects students to a network of professionals who understand the realities of living with vision loss.

“The continued MOU between LCB and Louisiana Tech represents more than 25 years of collaborative work by the two entities,” Dr. Edward Bell, director of the PDRIB, said. “This unique collaboration has provided professional training for individuals to teach the population of people with visual impairments nationwide in a highly effective manner. Thousands of children and adults with vision loss have gained greater hope and independence in life from this partnership.”

The PDRIB continues to transform the lives of individuals with blindness or low vision through its unique training model, Structured Discovery. Their mission focuses on increasing the independence of individuals through education and research on blindness, preparing professionals to lead the way in empowering youth and adults with vision loss.

“Structured Discovery has, at its core, a philosophy that holds that individuals living with blindness or low vision can enjoy full lives of productivity, civic engagement, independent living, and employment,” Bell said.

This model, developed by blind individuals, equips students with non-visual skills like braille reading and cane travel, helping them navigate life with confidence.

“Individuals across the country who are newly acquiring blindness or vision loss as well as facing helplessness that can occur with acquired disability are offered a newfound hope of independence through the graduates coming out of the PDRIB programs,” Bell added.

The PDRIB’s comprehensive training program includes immersion experiences, instruction, and internships. Students, both sighted and non-sighted, learn critical skills by being blindfolded during daily activities, enabling them to clarify misconceptions about blindness. Graduates of the program are in high demand nationwide, securing careers in teaching, counseling, and life-skills coaching, often within state agencies and nonprofit organizations.

“The PDRIB continues to support these professionals through its reach, continuing education and engagement with other organizations,” Bell said. “A job through our program gives students the opportunity to change lives every day.”

Students and faculty from diverse fields such as education, psychology, kinesiology, and human sciences find the PDRIB programs a perfect fit.

In addition to comprehensive training, the Institute offers graduate programs including the visual impairment/blind education certificate, rehabilitation teaching for the blind, and an orientation and mobility concentration.

“The PDRIB is a great opportunity to engage students, the community, and academia in an organic way that uplifts all of society and transforms the human experience,” Dr. Henrietta Pichon, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences, said.

“These are not desk jobs, but rather opportunities to learn how to engage with individuals in a physical world, providing hope and encouragement and inspiring growth across the lifespan for those experiencing the loss of one of their most heavily depended-upon senses,” Bell said.

For those interested in supporting the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness or getting involved, visit their website here or contact Dr. Edward Bell at ebell@latech.edu or 318.257.4554.

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Courtesy of GSU Communications

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by Wesley Harris

If fire engulfed your home, what would you try to save?

For Tommy Adkins, it was a work of art given to his family in exchange for food and a place to sleep over a century ago.

Tommy passed away in 2020, but his daughter Jenny Adkins James proudly displays the framed drawing Tommy retrieved from their burning home in 2012.

Tommy J. Adkins grew up in Claiborne Parish, home of the Adkins family since Lemiah Christopher Columbus Adkins and his wife Jincy moved the family from Georgia in 1852.

Tommy attended Summerfield and Homer High Schools, graduating from Homer in 1962, where he played football and basketball. His basketball skills earned him a scholarship to LSU, but he had to decline it for health reasons.

Instead, he graduated from Louisiana Tech where he met Dianne Britt. They married in 1967. Tommy completed LSU Law School and served two terms as district attorney for Lincoln and Union Parishes. When Tommy passed away in 2020, he and Dianne had been married 53 years.

In 2012, the Adkins family was living on Lakeshore Drive in Ruston when lightning struck the home, causing a massive fire.

Jenny James remembers January 25, 2012 well.

“It was a bad storm,” James recalls. “The lightning was unlike anything I’d ever seen. A bolt hit the heater vent on the roof and traveled down through the house. It was right above our heads in the upper level of our split level house.”

James says she saw sparks fly and black smoke poured through the vents. She and her son and mother fled the house.

Ruston firefighters and police officers responded to the blaze. Police called Tommy at his office and he rushed home.

The stubborn fire put a number of Ruston firefighters out of commission from exhaustion and police officers took up several of the hoses. Tommy pleaded with Ruston Police Lieutenant Curtis Hawkins to let him go in the burning house. He told Hawkins there was one item he had to save.

Hawkins was hesitant and Tommy continued to plead.

Tommy explained it was a family heirloom and in a room not directly involved in the fire at that moment. Hawkins decided they would try entry but first conferred with firefighters. Tommy and Hawkins entered the smoky room, removed the framed drawing from a wall, and escaped.

James says she and her mom had gone to a neighbor’s and did not know Tommy had gone into the burning home. She remembers the drawing hung in a closed living room on the lower level, so the fire had not reached it.

Tommy told Hawkins part of the family story. The artist, hungry and in need of shelter, had stopped at the family farm in Claiborne Parish generations ago.

Jerry Adkins, Tommy’s brother, still lives in Claiborne Parish.

“A man came to the house needing food and a place to stay for a few nights,” Jerry Adkins says. “The man said he did not have any money, but he could pay by drawing a picture for the family.”

“But I don’t know if that was my grandparents, great grandparents, or even further back.”

The drawing titled “Goin’ to See Grandfather,” is dated 1877 and portrays a European farm scene with a castle in the background. It was likely given to Jerry and Tommy’s great-great-grandfather Lemiah who was 58 that year. Or the recipient could have been Lemiah’s son Miles who at 22 in 1877 was married and had his own place.

Apparently the drawing passed to Miles’s son Benjamin Christopher Adkins, and then to Aloys Adkins, a well-known Claiborne Parish educator and father to Tommy and Jerry.

Jerry Adkins said the drawing was never displayed in their parent’s house, but “The detail in the artwork is as fine as you will see in a pencil drawing. You can see the woodgrain in logs and individual leaves on the trees.”

Adkins says the traveler was German, according to the story passed down through the family. The Adkins farm in the Camp community in Claiborne Parish was close to Germantown, a settlement initiated by Bernhard Müller, known as Count de Leon, northeast of Minden in 1836. The Count died before his small band reached the site, but his wife led them on to the tract near Minden.

The small German enclave meant to be a sort of utopia for religious freedom lasted until 1871.

Perhaps the traveling artist had sought out Germantown, unaware it no longer existed. But he needed a place to stay and found the Adkins family.

Hawkins, now Ruston City Marshal, says he was stunned by the detail and quality of the work. “Tommy said the man had used many pencils to complete the elaborate drawing.”

“I am impressed by the man’s ability,” Hawkins says, remembering when he rushed the artwork through the rain and placed it in his patrol car. “He had nothing but his talent and what he carried on his back, but he used his skill to trade for what he needed.”

Hawkins suspects the man used that artistic talent to support himself in his travels.

If the family’s account is correct that the itinerant artist only remained a night or two, the elaborate illustration is even more incredible.

The family wishes it knew more about this mystery artist. He signed his work but the name is unclear. The first name is “Eduard” or “Edward,” then “Rouge” or “Hoage” or something similar, possibly followed by a name starting with “J.” A cursory search of the internet failed to produce any matches.

James said the drawing will continue to be passed down in the Adkins family.

If you can help identify this artist, email Wesley Harris at campruston@gmail.com.

 

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In the Fall of 1997, as an 8th grader at Ruston Junior High, I attended my first Ruston High football game. The previous year we moved to Ruston from south Louisiana. My heart was still in south Louisiana. I missed my friends from south Louisiana and regularly checked my then-hometowns scores in the newspaper on Saturday mornings.

However, in the Spring of 1999, I approached Coach Tommy Reeder to ask him if I could be a part of the football team. I knew that I couldn’t play. I have a congenital heart defect and collision sports were off limits. Nevertheless, I wanted to be a part of the football team to make friends.

That conversation between Coach Reeder and I birthed a love that is only transcended by my love for the Lord and my friends and family.

I love Ruston football. I love everything we stand for. We represent honor. We represent integrity. We represent history and family.

The past three seasons have been nothing short of extraordinary. Three trips to the Dome! 3–0 verse West Monroe. Two district championships!

Class of 2025 Seniors, you have been an absolute joy to watch. You have put Ruston back on the football map! Starter or scout team, your success the past three seasons has won the affection of my heart and of so many Bearcat graduates before you!

Today, you feel the sting of defeat.

Today, you feel one of the downs of life.

You might even feel that you let the community of Ruston down.

You did not! My heart is grateful!

From 2000 to 2021 Ruston did not make it beyond the Quarterfinals. I, along with many Bearcat fans grew weary wondering if we would ever even see a championship appearance again!

I walked out of the Dome Saturday night knowing that I was able to watch my Bearcats play in the Dome. Not once, not twice, but three times in a row!

You did what no class or team ever did in the history of Ruston High.

There will be a day that you look back beneath the towering columns of your accomplishments.

There will be a day that you, with fond memories of your accomplishments, sing her praises, speed them onward, to the world proclaim.

We, Bearcat fans of all generations, will always love and cherish your accomplishment and how you carried Ruston High School’s name.

Bearcat Pride,
James McGovern
Ruston High Class of 2002
Head High School Baseball Coach
First Baptist Christian School (Lafayette, LA)

Submission letters for the 2024 Ruston High Bearcats may be sent to LPJNewsLA@gmail.com. The LPJ reserves the rights on which letters are published.

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by Wesley Harris

 

“An incredible meeting.”

That’s how Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker described a community meeting that drew 45 parish residents to the Lincoln Parish Library Saturday afternoon to discuss animal control issues.

Lauren DeFreese of 4 Paws Rescue opened the meeting by acknowledging “good things are happening regarding animal control, but there’s more to do.”

DeFreese said the meeting was called to discuss the treatment of animals in the community, specifically stray dogs and cats and the need for a major effort directed at spaying and neutering animals to combat the problem.

DeFreese described some of the situations she has seen in her work with 4 Paws Rescue, including animals being left at trash dumpster sites, including being thrown in the dumpsters, or tied to dumpsters or left in boxes on the side of the road or even in the middle of the road, hoping they will be struck by vehicles.

To illustrate the need for a significant spay and neuter program, DeFreese described a scenario where 40 dogs and 10 cats adopted out of an animal shelter could produce 120 puppies and 75 kittens within a year if the shelter does not require spaying and neutering as a condition of adoption.

It was recommended the Ruston animal shelter follow 4 Paws’ example of requiring spaying or neutering of all adopted animals, a condition not currently required by the City due to lack of a veterinarian on staff.

Mayor Walker provided a brief history of the animal control situation. He noted the City of Ruston decided to build an animal shelter in 2016. 4 Paws recommended a $25,000 study of the animal control issue first.

The study was completed at the City’s expense and some of its policy recommendations adopted.

Walker said the expense of the 2019 tornado that struck Ruston depleted the City’s reserves which delayed construction of the animal shelter on the site of the old airport on South Farmerville Street.

The animal shelter was opened in November 2023 at a cost of $3.8 million to house animals picked up in the city and in unincorporated Lincoln Parish. Walker said the Lincoln Parish Police Jury partnered with the city in the completion of the animal shelter.

Much of the discussion focused on the need for changes in the City’s animal control ordinances which Walker said were currently under review.

Walker said in addition to building an outstanding animal shelter, work to revise ordinances, and maintaining a staff of four animal control officers, the city was open to working with anyone to resolve the stray animal problem.

Also in attendance representing the Lincoln Parish Police Jury were Jurors T. J. Cranford, Logan Hunt, and Dan Lord. The Police Jury hired its own animal control officer earlier this year.

Hunt described a new program funded by the Police Jury to pay for spaying or neutering animals through the issuance of vouchers to parish residents to pay up to $260 for the procedure at selected local veterinarians.

Juror Dan Lord said, “We’ve come together to deal with the issue,” explaining relationships between governmental entities were making successful collaboration possible.

Walker emphasized the point saying, “The City and the Police Jury are working hand-in-hand to deal with the animal control situation in the entire parish.”

All of the officials acknowledged the lack of funding is one of the major obstacles in resolving the problem. One attendee suggested an optional “tax,” or more accurately, a donation, where a resident paying property taxes could include an extra amount with their tax payment to be directed toward animal welfare efforts.

Hunt and Walker recommended a major fundraiser similar to what other local nonprofits have conducted successfully. The project would involve the City of Ruston, 4 Paws, and the Police Jury,. Walker gave an example of possibly using the funds raised for a veterinarian to staff the animal shelter two days a week to provide spay and neuter services.

The idea brought applause from the audience which engaged in animated and passionate discussions throughout the meeting with commentators occasionally talking over one another.

Walker summarized a proposed action plan to study spaying or neutering animals before they leave the animal shelter, exploring a joint fundraiser or the donation tax, and revising the city ordinance which ha some problematic provisions.

“The meeting was incredible,” Walker told the Lincoln Parish Journal after the two-hour session ended. “For the first time ever all of us were together in the same room with the same objective. We are going to solve this problem.”

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Armed man found with marijuana on stop

Police arrested a Ruston man Tuesday after he was found carrying marijuana and a pistol on a traffic stop.

William B. Green, 22, was stopped for excessively dark window tint on his vehicle on East California Avenue about 3 p.m. Dec. 10. When the officer approached the Green, he saw a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana hanging out of Green’s hoodie. Green also had a pistol in his waistband.

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Green was placed under arrest and a search of the vehicle’s driver’s seat located a digital scale commonly used to weigh drugs. The bag was found to contain over 40 grams of suspected marijuana.

Green was booked at Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Green’s bail amount was not available at publication time.

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.

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