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Noah Fontenot is presented the Fifth-Grade Student of the Year Award by Evangeline Parish School Board Superintendent Darwan Lazard. Fontenot, a fifth-grade student at Chataignier Elementary School, is the son of Heath and Christina Fontenot. (Gazette photo by Claudette Olivier)

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Kamryn West is presented the Eighth-Grade Student of the Year Award by Evangeline Parish School Board Superintendent Darwan Lazard on Thursday night. West, an eighth-grade student at Bayou Chicot Elementary, is the daughter of Rev. Kevin West and Anita West. (Gazette photo by Claudette Olivier)

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Alex Gautreaux is presented the Twelfth-Grade Student of the Year Award by Lazard. Gautreaux, a twelfth-grade student at Pine Prairie High School, is the son of Brandy and Joseph Gautreaux. (Gazette photo by Claudette Olivier)

A night of stars: Evangeline Parish School Board honors parish’s top students with gala event

By: CLAUDETTE OLIVIER
Lifestyles Editor

Noah Fontenot, Kamryn West and Alex Seth Gautreaux were honored as Evangeline Parish’s top students during Thursday evening’s A Night Among the Stars Gala at the Northside Civic Center.
Evangeline Parish School Board Superintendent Darwan Lazard said, “I want you to continue to go higher and higher and higher and make us proud. You’ve already made us proud, and we feel that you can make us even prouder.”
He continued, “I am grateful to the parents who are here, family members, who have come to support these wonderful students. Thank you so much for your interest in their lives and for entrusting us, those of us with the Evangeline Parish School System, with these precious resources we call children.”
Students in fifth, eighth and twelfth grade are eligible for the Student of the Year award, and the students must have a 3.2 to 4.0 average. Students are selected by a committee that is set by state guidelines. Committee members include a teacher that instructs at the indicated level, a school administrator, a central office administrator and two to three community members. This year’s judges were Orlandar Jack, Patrola Savoy, Renee Goodley and Wayne Bordelon.
Fontenot, a fifth-grade student at Chataignier Elementary School, is the son of Heath and Christina Fontenot. Fontenot enjoys playing video games, recording videos, creating things with recycled goods, reading, kayaking with his father, dancing, playing the piano, going to concerts and plays and listening to music. His favorite movie is “Sing,” and his favorite computer game is Minecraft. Fontenot plans to attend Louisiana State University and the LSU medical school in New Orleans to become a doctor.
Fonetnot said, “I am very excited. I am really excited about the regional Student of the Year interview in Jennings.”
He continued, “In my next interview, I plan to talk about how awesome my fourth grade teacher, Miss Johnson, is. She is also my Junior Beta sponsor.”
West, an eighth-grade student at Bayou Chicot Elementary, is the daughter of Rev. Kevin West and Anita West. She enjoys singing, creating artwork, performing songs through sign language movement, playing the piano, hanging out with family and friends, watching movies and serving others. West’s favorite subjects are history and biology, and her favorite film is “Divergent.” Her favorite color is green and her favorite app is Pandora. West plans to become a medical doctor.
West said, “I was jumping around when I found out I had won. I was just very shocked because I knew someone else who very much deserved it, but overall my greatest feeling was excitement.”
West said she plans to work on her public speaking skills before the regional interview.
Gautreaux, a twelfth-grade student at Pine Prairie High School, is the son of Brandy and Joseph Gautreaux. His hobbies include reading and acting, and his favorite school subject is biology. His favorite book series and movie series is Harry Potter, and favorite color is blue. Gautreaux aspires to one day be a surgeon.
Gautreaux said, “I was surprised to win, but I am really excited. I think it’s a good thing.
“I am going to practice and go over the questions they asked me at the district level so I can prepare for the next interview.”
Gautreaux said he took the American College Test eight times, and his highest score is a 31.
“I freaked out when I got the results,” he said, laughing.
All students were presented with a certificate of recognition, and the top three winners received plaques and Ipads. The overall winners will next compete at the Regional Student of the Year event.
Other fifth-grade Star Students recognized at the event were: Daisy Berzas, Basile High School; Gracie Vidrine, Bayou Chicot Elementary School; Alexis Acosta, James Stephens Montessori School; Jena Pommier, Mamou High School; Ellen Deshotel, Vidrine Elementary School; and Iven Chen, Ville Platte High School.
Other eighth-grade Star Students recognized at the event were: Andrew Fontenot, Basile High School; Skylee Ardoin, Chataignier Elementary School; Asharia Leday, Mamou High School; Akeira Malveaux, Vidrine Elementary School; and James Wilson, Ville Platte High School.
Other twelfth-grade Star Students recognized at the event were: Emily Fuselier, Basile High School; Chandler Vidrine, Mamou High School; and Trace Trahan, Ville Platte High School. Brianna Robert of Ville Platte High School was honored as the WBLP Star Student, and Nathan Thomsas, Evangeline Central School, was honored as the HIset/JAG Star Student.

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