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Patterson High School student Robert David’s work will be represented on the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s official poster as well as the program for the state championship football games, which begin Friday and continue next weekend. Above, from left, are Patterson Principal Rachael Credeur, David and his art teacher, Reagan Beaubouef. (Submitted Photo/Courtesy of Reagan Beabouef)

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Patterson High School senior Robert David’s artwork, which is featured on the LHSAA Prep Classic Poster and the cover of the program of the association’s state championship games’ programs. (Submitted Photo/Courtesy of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association)

Patterson senior Robert David’s artwork featured by LHSAA

He’s just a very talented young man; he does things that you can’t teach.
By CORWIN MURRAY

Patterson High senior Robert David is a true artist. He’s laid-back, but extremely talented.
The self-taught artist won the 2014 Louisiana High School Athletic Association Prep Classic Poster Contest. David’s artwork will serve as the official poster and program cover for the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic, and he will be featured in the souvenir program for the event. David will be recognized during halftime of the Class 3A championship game on Dec. 13 with his art teacher, Reagan Beaubouef, and Patterson Principal Rachael Credeur.
“I’m so proud of Robert, he’s truly talented,” Credeur said last month. “I’m excited that he went for it and his art is absolutely beautiful. Congratulations to him. I feel like he put Patterson on the map.”
David will receive overnight accommodations in New Orleans and VIP passes to enjoy the Prep Classic in an LHSAA suite. He also will receive a $100 prize, compliments of the LHSAA and free Raising Cane’s for a year.
“I’ve only been to the Super Dome once when our football team made it there, so I’m kind of excited to go on the field and see everything from there,” David said last month.
When Credeur passed the LHSAA Poster Contest information to Beaubouef, she immediately thought of David.
He is a student in St. Mary Parish’s Talented Art Program. The Talented Visual Art Program provides services to students who are identified as having exceptional talent in visual art. These students are state tested and qualified for admittance into the program.
“Robert is exceptional in several different disciplines,” Beaubouef said. “He’s just a very talented young man; he does things that you can’t teach.”
Beaubouef works with students in the program at Hattie Watts, Patterson Junior High and Patterson High schools.
“Unfortunately, this is Robert’s first year in (the) program,” she said. “I wish we could have worked together longer, but I’m happy he’s getting this time, because this is the only art program available in the school system right now.”
David only gets 30 minutes twice a week for his art, but he worked on this award-winning drawing with every free moment.
“When I was young, I would spend hours and hours working on my art, but I’m older now and I have to work around my other responsibilities,” he said. “But after I got an idea of what I wanted to do, I carried my stuff everywhere, and I would add things as they came to me.”
He juggles his passion for art with his course work and a part-time job.
Always interested in art, David began drawing at a young age and plans to attend art school after graduation.
“I want to attend an art school, but I haven’t decided what to major in yet because I want to make sure I have a solid foundation for the future,” he said.
David is active in his school’s yearbook class and Student Council, and he created a landscape painting for the Patterson homecoming back drop.
He also is involved in his local Ducks Unlimited Chapter, often providing paintings to be auctioned at their annual banquets. David’s hobbies include hunting, fishing, drawing and painting. His art most often reflects his hobbies.
He credits Beaubouef with motivating him to finish the LHSAA Poster Contest.
“The Patterson High School community is very proud of Robert and congratulate him for receiving this prestigious award,” Beaubouef said. “His poster being selected as the official poster for the Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic is an honor for Robert and for his fellow Lumberjacks.”
David is the son of Robert David and Dezica Broussard.

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