By T. Scott Boatright
New Lincoln Preparatory School graduate JaNancia Richard is only 16 years old.
But she’s already accomplished more than many 20 year olds.
Not only is Richard Lincoln Prep’s Salutatorian with a 4.6 grade point average, she was also honored with the Dr. Birdex Copeland Jr. Citizenship Award during the recent graduation exercises at Lincoln Preparatory School.
The award recognizes a student who possesses strength of character, is a school or community leader, promotes citizenship, or other similar characteristics of leadership.
Copeland, who died in 2020 at the age of 76, retired from Grambling State University, where he served as professor, head of the Department of Sociology and dean of the School of Social Work.
He also was a member of Grambling’s City Council and also played a key role in founding Lincoln Preparatory School. The road off of La. Hwy. 181 to enter LPS property is named Dr. Birdex Copeland Jr. Avenue in his honor.
Born and raised in Quitman, Richard transferred to Lincoln Prep at the start of the 2023-24 school year and recorded a 4.0 GPA as a freshman before enrolling directly into the school’s Early College Academy, completing coursework requirements classifying her as a junior at the end of the year.
The accelerated program allowed her to take dual enrollment courses at Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA), from which she now holds an Associate’s Degree in General Studies with a 4.0 grade point average.
All the while she became a driving force in her school and community, serving as an officer in the Beta Club, participated in local service projects, and held titles as both Miss SUSLA (Lincoln Prep) and Miss Dual Enrollment (SUSLA).
During Lincoln Prep’s graduation program Richard was recognized for the school’s Highest ACT Award, Highest WorkKeys Award and the Highest Community Service Award.
Richard was also president of Lincoln Preparatory School’s National Honor Society and was offered more than $1.5 million in academic scholarships after receiving a remarkable 53 college acceptance offers from institutions across the country.
“JaNancia is a once-in-a-generation student whose talents, integrity, and drive will leave a lasting impact wherever she goes,” said Dr. Crystal Washington, Acting CEO/Executive Director of Lincoln Preparatory School. “Her dignity and poise is amazing. We are incredibly proud of her and cannot wait to see what her future holds.”
The road toward Richard’s future will run through Grambling State University, where she plans to major in Biology with a Pre-Med focus.
Richard, the daughter of Margaret Calloway and Philip D. Richard, Sr., credits her grandfather as a driving force behind her success.
“The secret behind my success is my unwavering faith in Jesus Christ who is my foundation,” she said. “As a Black woman, I’ve faced adversity, but it’s only strengthened my calling to serve others. What fuels my drive the most, though, is my grandfather. He has dementia, and I’ve been one of his caregivers. Watching someone you love slowly lose the ability to speak, to express themselves, to remember who they are and the life they have built changes you. He no longer has a voice, but I do.
“So I speak up,not just for him, but for everyone who’s fighting silent battles. His strength in the face of something so devastating inspires me every day to be a voice, a guide, and a source of light for others who feel unheard or unseen.”
