By KEVIN CHIRI

Publisher

LAPLACE – Hailey Chapman is a soft spoken fifth grader at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic School, who almost seems embarrassed by all the attention she is getting lately.

Chapman was recently named the fifth grade &#8220Student of the Year” among all New Orleans Archdiocese schools.

She is now waiting for results against six other non-public regional winners from around the state, to try and represent non-public schools in the state competition against public school state nominees.

Chapman, 11, said she was &#8220excited” when Principal Amy DiMaggio came to her class and informed the students that &#8220the teacher of this class is the teacher for the Student of the Year in the entire Archdiocese.”

&#8220At first I didn’t know it was me,” she said quietly. &#8220But then I was pretty excited when I found out I was the one.”

Chapman may not try to take a lot of credit for the honor bestowed upon her, but listening to her principal, and looking at her accomplishments makes it clear she is a very special young lady.

Involved in the Student Council last year, the 4-H, WAOL News Program at the school, Daughters of Mary, and playing softball and soccer, Chapman stays very busy while still maintaining a straight ‘A’ average.

&#8220My parents have always taught me that I have to study first. I want to make sure and get good grades all the way through school so I am ready for college,” she said.

Principal DiMaggio said that Chapman’s outstanding character is seen in more than just her work in the classroom.

&#8220She’s such a well-rounded, spiritual young lady,” she said. &#8220When you get to know her, you see how she treats her classmates, and that says a lot about how she is. We’re very proud of her.”

Chapman’s honor was the second such honor in two years at Ascension of Our Lord, after an eighth grader won that award last year.

Chapman had to write an essay to enter the competition, after the school nominated several of their top students to the Archdiocese.

Then she was sent to DeLaSalle High School in New Orleans where she had to be interviewed by a panel of judges.

Chapman already has her sites on a career as a nurse, which seemed to be advanced by the fact that her great-grandmother had Alzheimer’s.

&#8220We always went to her house and I liked helping her,” she said. &#8220I just like the idea of being a nurse since it is a way to help people, and I like that.”

Hailey has a 6-year-old sister, Morgan, and is the daughter of Mark and Heidi Chapman of LaPlace.