Young Authors, 4-H'ers recognized

CROWLEY – The Acadia Parish School Board’s May meeting had two opening items designated toward recognition of its students Monday night.

Winners of the Young Authors Contest as well as several 4-H’ers were on the agenda and on hand to be honored by the board.

“Good to see so many students recognized like they were tonight,” said Superintendent John Bourque. 

A standing room only crowd full of excited students and proud family and friends welcomed the board’s recognitions with great enthusiasm.

First on the agenda were the winners of the Young Authors Contest.

Two schools participated  voluntarily, Branch Elementary and Rayne Catholic. It is a kindergarten through eighth grade competition. The parish participants did very well, according to the parish’s contest coordinator.

From Rayne Catholic, nine placed at the parish level. First place winners moved onto the Acadiana Council (regional level), six placed there. First place winners at this level went on to state competition.

Branch Elementary had 16 participants place either first or second at the parish level, 10 placed at regional and two placed at state.

State third place winners were Eric Lavergne (poetry) and Gabrielle Risotto-Hoffpauir (nonfiction). All state winners were published in a book.

“It’s absolutely super to have participation like this from kindergarten and up,” said Board Member Gene Daigle. “Congratulations to the students.”

Second, the board recognized students belonging to various 4-H clubs across the parish.

Dana Leger presented a video of the students working on the 4-H Shooting Sports. About 150 kids from all 27 parish clubs participated this year. The shooting sports included archery and rifle competitions.

Leger announced several winners of state contests, including one who will be moving on to national competition with the Louisiana team at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Winners at the state level include:

Archery

• Junior Barebow, Recurve – Hayden McBride, first place

• Junior Genesis – Hayden McBride, first place

• Senior Barebow, Recurve – Joshua Lessigne, eighth place

• Senior Compound – Lani Hanks, second place; Bradley Hanks, third place

• Archer National Division – Spencer LeJeune, finished in top five and will compete at nationals

Rifle

• CMP Rifle, junior – Colin Steen, first place

“I would just like to thank you, Dana, because what you are doing is strictly voluntary,” said Board Member Milton Simar.

Leger pointed to her son’s involvement in 4-H and fascination with the shooting sports aspect that made her get involved.