LUTCHER – St. James High School senior, Sharis Steib, joins Lutcher High School eighth grader Davi Clement and St. James Parish Schools Gifted Center/Sixth Ward Elementary fifth grader Kelse Alexander as students of the year for the 2008-2009 school year.

By being named Student of the Year for the parish, the three students will move on to compete for the same award at the state regional level. From the regional level students will compete statewide for the coveted Louisiana Student of the Year award.

“Student of the Year is the event in which our students get to shine for their academic success as well as their community involvement and extracurricular activities,” stated Gaynell Albert, SJPS administrative director for student services who coordinates the Student of the Year Awards. “As usual, we had wonderful participants, and they all represented their schools in a manner we can be proud of.  They should be congratulated on a job well done.  They are all true winners.  I would like to extend a huge thank you to the parents of our participants. We realize that your continued support allows the students to fulfill their dreams.”

“Sharis Steib, Davi Clement and Kelse Alexander will do an outstanding job representing St. James Parish Schools at the regional level,” Albert added. “They exemplify a commitment to excellence in the most profound way.”

Sharis, the daughter of Nicholas and Sharon Steib, maintains a 4.0 grade point average while balancing her time between numerous school and community clubs, including the SJHS BETA Club, JROTC, 4-H Club, wildcats girls basketball and track and field teams. Steib has been named a SJPS Superintendent Scholar for eleven consecutive years dating back to the 1997-1998 school year. As

the highest ranked cadet of the SJHS JROTC, Sharis helped guide the unit to a Gold Star, the highest honor given to a JROTC program, by being named an Honor Unit with Distinction following their April 2008 inspection.

Sharis is a student at the Science and Math Academy and attends Nicholls State University through the SJPS Dual-Enrollment Program. She plans to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2008 to pursue a degree in Sports Medicine.

Davi is the daughter of Davey and Dawn Clement. She is a student of the SJPS gifted program and is involved with several student organizations that include the LHS Jr. BETA, and the seventh/eighth grade league championship volleyball team. Davi performs in several dance groups and theatrical performances for LHS and the community. Clement currently maintains a 3.85 GPA. Davi aspires to become a pediatrician and has a passion for writing.

Kelse, the 10-year-old daughter of Dwight Alexander and Collete Trench, is a fifth grader at Sixth Ward and also a member of the first group of students to attend the St. James Parish Gifted Center. She currently has a 3.85 GPA and has been a Superintendent Scholar since the 2006-2007 school year. Kelse is a member and officer of the 4-H club and was a member of the Dryades YMCA 2008 Summer Freedom School Program.

“I would like to commend all of our students who participated in the Student-of-the-Year selection process,” said SJPS Superintendent. Alonzo Luce. “They have worked hard and made great sacrifices to put themselves in a position to be recognized as outstanding students. I salute the parents of all three of our winners, for it is the support system that has allowed those students to thrive in their respective grades.”

“I look forward to observing the growth of our Student-of-the-Year in the lower grades and wish for the future success of both our seniors who have done a superb job of raising the bar of excellence during their formative education years in St. James Parish Schools,” added Luce.