St. James Parish selects 2000 students of the year
Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 4, 2001
DANIEL TYLER GOODEN
LUTCHER – Three St. James Parish Students are on their way to New Orleans to compete for the honor of being the Louisiana Student of the Year. Lacey Millet, 12th grade, Lutcher High School; Brandon Keller, eighth grade, Vacherie Elementary; and Gary Alexander Davis, fifth grade, Vacherie Elementary were recently named as the St. James Parish Students of the Year. The students were chosen from each school’s students of the year to represent the parish in the regional competition in March. The Student of the Year Awards Program recognizes outstanding students in all levels of the education process. They are chosen for their excellent academic achievements, leadership ability and citizenship. Each student in the fifth, eighth and 12th grades, with a grade point average of at least 3.5 are invited to participate. The students that chose to enter must submit a biography which normally includes their family history, interests, career aspirations and other information. The students also include a profile of their leadership ability, participation in activities, citizen and service involvement and recognitions and awards. Each student also must participate in an interview. The biography writing sample is judged on clarity and continuity of though, originality, interest, use of words, correctness of sentence structure and grammar. The interview is judged by poise and confidence, ability to relate to his or her ideas, fluency in speaking, good voice projections, clear focus on assigned topics, use of facts to support a position, flexibility in response to questions, use of correct grammar, relevance of answers or explanations and appropriate body language and eye contact. The interview questions can be as simple as what is you favorite television show or what if your favorite book, or as complex as what current trends in the job market must high school students be prepared to face. Though the judges are different every year the panel consists of the current parish teacher of the year and community leaders, said Rhonda Lee, organizer of the program. The judges use a point system based on the state selection process to chose the parish representatives. The regional selection processes requires the same submissions as the parish level, said Lee. “The interview counts a lot,” Lee added. The last students to attend the regionals were Amanda Delatte and Kevin Chenier of Vacherie Elementary and Alana Davis of Lutcher High School. The last student that continued past the regionals was Lutcher High student Theresa Martin, who became a Louisiana Student of the Year. Martin is now attending Louisiana State University. Lacey Millet is the daughter of Cindy and Craig Millet, of Lutcher. “When I first walked in the halls at Lutcher High School, I was a little frightened but also excited. I was starting all over again and knew that my high school years would be whatever I made them into,” stated Millet in her biography. “My high school years have been everything I hoped for. I look into the future and can see many dreams and goals that I have yet to begin working towards,” added Millet. Now that Millet is nearing graduation her goals incorporate college, majoring in either chemistry or neuroscience and a minor in journalism. Brandon Keller is the son of Carliss and Dennis Keller of Vacherie. Education is a very important factor in his life. “I love school. I have seven years of perfect attendance and math is my favorite subject, stated Keller. He continues in his biography to attribute much of his achievements to his family and to God. “My parents and grandparents are very big supporters for me and my education. My faith is something that no one can take away from me. My parents contribute a lit to my belief in God. They are my first teachers and through them my faith has become even stronger for the love of God, added Keller. Gary Alexander Davis is the son of Simone and Gary Davis, of Vacherie. Davis, who is 11 year-old has set his goals as “graduating from st. James High School and going to college at Florida State. I plan on majoring in criminal justice and becoming a lawyer. I would also like to become a part of Florida State’s football team. Right now my education is one of my top priorities,” said Davis. Davis also displays a devotion towards his parents. “I always promised my mother that I would one day put her in a house on the top of a hill, and I have every intention of doing just that. In order to do that, I must stay focused on what’s important in life,” added Davis. All three Students of the Year, like all the applicants, have a page after page of awards, activities and honors. The Students of the Year for each school are: Chenise Steib, Fifth Ward Elementary; Patrick Duhon, Gramercy Elementary; Akeem Johnson, Lutcher Elementary; Jessica Taylor, Paulina Elementary; Herbert Dennis Jr., Sixth Ward Elementary; Zoya Malarcher and Chastity Maddie, Romeville Elementary; Brandon Keller and Gary Alexander Davis, Vacherie Elementary; Lauri Martin, Lutcher Junior High; Kristen Mitchell, St. James Junior High; Eileen Becnel, St. James High; and Lacey Millet, Lutcher High School.