By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish officials and School Board members gathered to celebrate the current and future success of recent high school graduates during their third annual Parish President’s Academic Achievement Luncheon.
Valedictorians and salutorians from public and private schools in the parish were invited to dine with their families and teachers at the Belle Terre Country Club. The students received supportive words from the likes of Parish President Natalie Robottom and Superintendent of Schools Herbert Smith, chronicling their lives immediately after high school and explaining how they began their current careers.
The officials also encouraged the students to bring their talents back home to the parish after they completed their education in their chosen fields.