St. Mary Chamber honors students and teachers

PATTERSON — Students and educators in St. Mary Parish were honored Thursday night in an event that doubled as a scholarship fundraiser.
The St. Mary Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Education and Appreciation Night Thursday at the Patterson Area Civic Center. The night included silent and live auctions to raise money for scholarships, the awarding of scholarships along with recognition for student and teachers of the year.
District Attorney Bo Duhe served as master of ceremonies for the night, while state Sen. Fred Mills, R-Parks, and Public Service Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Scott Angelle served as auctioneers for the live auction.
The chamber awarded $1,500 scholarships to a student from each high school in St. Mary Parish in addition to a $2,000 scholarship donation to South Central Louisiana Technical College. The $1,500 scholarships were awarded to McKenzie Baumgartner of Berwick High, Alexandra Aucoin of Central Catholic High, Christian Arias of Centerville High, Nekeiah Gibson of Franklin High, Caitlin St. Blanc of Hanson Memorial High, Diana Tran of Morgan City High, Loreal Johnson of Patterson High, and Amber Madison of West St. Mary High.
The scholarships were selected based on high academic achievement in addition to involvement and leadership in school and community activities, Duhe said.
Aucoin received the student of the year award. Aucoin will attend Nicholls State and major in pre-med and hopes to continue to medical school and start her own practice.
The St. Mary Arts and Humanities Council also awarded scholarships to Mary Beth Blanchard of Central Catholic High and Maggie Martin and Ashlyn Pittman of Berwick High.
Chamber officials presented the St. Mary Parish high school teacher of the year award to Berwick High teacher Yvette Lake.
Lake is a 14-year veteran of the St. Mary Parish school system, and is currently a civics teacher, St. Mary Parish Schools Assistant Superintendent Teresa Bagwell said.
“At Berwick High School, she has established a reputation for motivating students to develop a deep understanding and appreciation of our nation’s democracy,” Bagwell said.
“Her creative and inspiring instruction has acted to build civic competence and responsibility among students who will soon become voters and community leaders,” Bagwell said.
Lake also sponsors a student government organization that’s active in building student application of governmental principles at the school level, Bagwell said.
Though other teacher of the year recipients were not present at Thursday’s event, the chamber also announced teacher of the year awards for elementary and junior high schools.
The awards were given to Melinda Lanclos of Raintree Elementary and Loraine Sinitiere of Patterson Junior High.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com.