Shock, honor and surprise: Students of Year named

St. Mary Parish Schools announced Wednesday its three winners of the Students of the Year competition. They all hail from schools in Berwick.

Winners Kate Marie Williams, a fifth-grader at Berwick Elementary; Anna Leleux, an eighth-grader at Berwick Junior High; and Nicholas Levergne , a 12th-grader at Berwick High will move on to the Students of the Year regional competition in February.

The Students of the Year Award Program is designed to recognize outstanding elementary, middle-junior, and high school students.

The program is sponsored by the state department of education and state board of elementary and secondary education.

“It is an excellent opportunity to recognize students from each parish who have demonstrated excellent academic achievement, leadership ability and citizenship,” said St. Mary Schools Student of the Year Chairperson Tammy Drexler.

Grateful, honored and shocked were sentiments expressed by student winners after discovering their parish victory.

Levergne said he’s grateful to represent the parish further and the community that’s given so much to him.

“It’s definitely humbling,” Levergne said. “I find it very humbling because they’re all very great students. It was great competition.”

“I’m very honored to be chosen because I feel like all of the students of the year that interviewed deserved it, too,” Leleux said. “So, I’m very honored that they chose me.”

Williams was on her way to catechism when she found out she won.

“At first my mouth was just hanging open,” Williams said. “I was really shocked at first.

“And then it was just like I was having a moment when you’re so happy you try to like laugh or scream because you’re so happy but it just won’t come out.”

Tough competition made the win an amazing feat for Williams.

“First of all, it’s just amazing for your school to even select you,” Williams said. “For your parish to select you, I don’t know how to really put it into words how excited I was.

“It felt amazing that I’m the one who they thought best represents St. Mary Parish when we go into the regional competition,” Williams said.

“It felt amazing to be selected over everybody because I knew there was going to be tough competition. It was just great to know that I could win something like that.”

Winning was slightly surprising for Leleux.

“I felt like I blew the interview,” Leleux said. “But I felt happy that I did do it because I worked hard for it to make it for my school. I’m excited to make it for the parish.”

The students acknowledged their parents, grandparents, teachers, principals and friends for supporting and preparing them to win the competition.

St. Mary Parish will host the regional fifth-grade competition. Orleans and Plaquemines parishes are locations for the eighth- and 12th-grade regional competitions.

After the regional competition, Louisiana students will compete statewide in Baton Rouge in the spring.

Participating fifth-graders:

—Bill Cao, Aucoin Elementary

—Blaze Harrison, Bayou Vista Elementary

—Alexis Estay , Centerville Elementary

—Christian Lopez, Foster Elementary

—Lillian Berry, Norman Elementary

—Elijah Johnson, Patterson Junior High

—Mason Myers, Raintree Elementary

—Brandon Cordero, Wyandotte Elementary

Participating eighth-graders:

—Ajani Connor, B.E. Boudreaux Middle

— Dacie Clinton, Centerville Junior High

—Mary Frances Vincent, Morgan City Junior High

—Reagan Lindsey, Patterson Junior High

Participating 12th-graders:

—Michelle Porath , Centerville High

—Jennifer Tran, Morgan City High

—Matthew Dardeau , Patterson High

—Deante’ Gibson, West St. Mary High