LIVINGSTON, La. – The Livingston Parish School Board and Superintendent John Watson on May 2 recognized parish students in grades 5, 8 and 12, who were awarded Student of the Year honors at their respective schools.

The special ceremony also recognized the top students from each grade level who were selected as the overall Livingston Parish Students of the Year. These top students participated in regional Student of Year competitions earlier this school year.

Those top winners were: High School Student of the Year Gerald Tate Sibley, a senior from Walker High School; Middle School Student of the Year Cameron Cade Hood, an eighth grader from North Corbin Junior High; and Elementary Student of the Year Emma Catherine Elsea, a fifth grader from Freshwater Elementary.
Other Livingston Parish selections for Student of the Year honors included:

12th Grade – Taylor Callahan, Albany High School; Melanie Maree Wascom, Denham Springs High School; Luther Richard Pringle, III, Doyle High School; Kaitlyn Joyce Methvien, Holden High School; Gary Milton Gillette, Live Oak High School; and Kaitlyn Winnie Carroll, Maurepas High School. French Settlement High and Springfield High did not participate in this year’s 12th Grade Student of the Year competition.

8th Grade – Jessica Frances Litolff, Albany Middle School; Cassidy Nicole Ainsworth, Denham Springs Junior High; Jennifer Leah Jemison, Doyle High; Jed Spencer Parrish, Frost School; Eric Steven Forbes, Holden School; Christian Bryan Middlebrook, Juban Parc Junior High; William Scott Smith, Jr., Live Oak Middle School; Victoria Elizabeth Bovia, Maurepas School; Rachel Caroline Taylor, Southside Junior High School; Shelby Alise Chandler, Springfield Middle School; and Ivy Pearl Richard, Westside Junior High. French Settlement High did not participate in this year’s 8th Grade Student of the Year competition.

5th Grade – Josie Lea Purvis, Albany Middle School; Noah Armando Juan, Denham Springs Elementary; Madelyn Adelle Lott, Doyle Elementary; Emily Grace Rushing, Eastside Elementary; Dannah Lynn Martin, French Settlement Elementary; Robert Mason Turner, Frost School; James “JT” Allen Gould, III, Gray’s Creek Elementary; Emma Francis Hutchinson, Holden School; Benjamin Thomas Eunice, Juban Parc Elementary; Courtney Rae Caruso, Levi Milton Elementary; Anna Jeanne Ambeau, Lewis Vincent Elementary; Ainsley Paige Nunneley, Live Oak Elementary; Baylee Elizabeth Balfantz, Maurepas School; Sophia Yanuntaniya Charoenpap, North Corbin Elementary; Kade David Lane, North Live Oak Elementary; Davis Mitchell Covington, Northside Elementary; Kateland Noel Howard, Seventh Ward Elementary; Max Trevor Hopecraft, South Fork Elementary; Elizabeth Marie Hilton, South Live Oak Elementary; Lathan Cole Minton, South Walker Elementary; Logan Michael Whittington, Southside Elementary; Brielle Grace Lee, Springfield Middle; and Ali Yvonne Geautreaux, Walker Elementary.

LIVINGSTON, La.  – The two-person team of Forrest Bellue, a senior at Live Oak High School, and Tyler Palmer, a junior at Holden High School, recently earned first place in the state automotive technology competition, which was held in Alexandria.  The students were under the direction of Van Guarino, automotive instructor at the Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center.

Bellue and Palmer bested other top automotive technology students in a statewide hands-on competition that required them to showcase their problem-solving capabilities and automotive knowledge by resolving “real world” repair challenges in a timed, head-to-head match-up.

The top prize included $3,000 tuition for a Ford FACT or ASSET training program, $10,000 each for tuition to the Universal Technical Institute (UTI), and $10,000 each for tuition to Ohio Technical College, for a total value of $23,000 each.  Bellue and Palmer also received from NAPA and Snap On Tools a four-drawer roll around tool box and various hand tools valued at approximately $1,000.

Guarino said Bellue and Palmer qualify to compete in the 64th Annual Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition, which will be held this June at the Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.

He noted that Livingston Parish students earned 8th place in the 2011 national competition for the title of “America’s Best Student Auto Technicians,” which was the highest finish for any Louisiana team in recent history.

“Livingston Parish’s students are proving to be leaders in the field of automotive technology.  We are so proud of Forrest (Bellue) and Tyler (Palmer), and we are expecting great things from them at this summer’s national competition,” Guarino said.

Livingston Parish School Superintendent John Watson praised Guarino for his program’s reoccurring success, noting that the program also holds national certification status with the National Technician Education Foundation (NATEF), which places it on par with other industry-recognized teaching institutions, making Livingston Parish’s automotive students immediately eligible to sit for a national certification test that is recommended to work in the industry.

“Professionals seeking automotive technicians know that Livingston Parish’s students meet industry standards and that they are highly skilled and knowledgeable,” Watson said.

Guarino noted that students enrolled in the parish’s automotive program must complete four courses over a two-year period, gaining instruction on brakes, steering and suspension, and electrical and engine performance, to be able to take the national certification test.  After passing the test, students can work two years in the automotive industry to qualify for their complete certification in Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

“Our students are competing at the top levels and getting a jump start on productive careers,” Guarino said.

Bellue and Palmer will compete for nearly $12 million in scholarships at the national competition, which will showcase the knowledge and skills of the nation’s best high school automotive technology students.

Teams from all 50 states will be put to the test with a 100-question written exam and a timed event in which they race against the clock and each other to identify glitches and repair deliberately installed “bugs” in identical Ford vehicles.  The bugs can range from a “no start” situation to a broken horn and hood latch.  The top 10 teams will receive full and partial scholarships from leading automotive technology institutions in the country, including Lincoln College of Technology, Universal Technical Institute, University of Northwestern Ohio, Ohio Technical College and WyoTech.

2013-5 Automotive Winners — Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center’s Automotive Instructor Van Guarino is pictured with Forrest Bellue from Live Oak High and Tyler Palmer from Holden High, from left to right, who recently won the state automotive competition.  They each received scholarships and prizes valued at more than $23,000.

Admission is free, and the public is invited.

The event will feature food samples from local business, and showcase business in Livingston Parish or those that support Livingston Parish.

Local health care professionals will conduct free screenings. Door prizes will be given away at the event, chamber officials said.

Those interested in becoming sponsors can become gold sponsors for $1,000, silver sponsors for $500 or booth participants for $195.

For details, call the chamber at (225) 665-8155.

Amite- District Attorney Scott Perrilloux’s Tri-Parish Victims Assistance Program (TPVAP) hosted their annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Ceremony on April 25, 2013 at the Amite Community Center in Amite, LA.

The ceremony was opened with an invocation by Pastor, and TPSO Baliff, Kiplyn Andrews. TPVAP Coordinator Tameka White then welcomed the families of victims and introduced Amite Mayor Buddy Bel for the proclamation of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

Guest Speakers Jessica Newell-Dupepe and Assistant District Attorney Jeff Johnson spoke with attendees about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), the struggle victims and their families face during court proceedings, and the challenges they continue to endure.

Following a prayer by Andrews, participants took part in a memorial balloon release. Victims’ families were able to attach prayers and notes to their loved ones before releasing the balloons.

Attendees then enjoyed a meal together before hearing closing remarks from Assistant District Attorney Vanessa Williams.

In addition to the ceremony, a memorial portfolio, which displayed a tribute to area homicide victims, was available to be viewed at the District Attorney’s Offices in Livingston, Tangipahoa, & St. Helena parishes.

“I would like to thank everyone for their continued support and participation,” said White, “No matter what part you played, big or small, it was appreciated.”

The Tri-Parish Victims’ Assistance program provides services to victims of crime with active cases in the 21st Judicial District including: advocacy, education, emotional support, case notification for felony and domestic cases, court escorts, 24-hour rape crisis hotline, and a domestic violence prosecution unit. For more information, contact the district attorney’s office weekdays from 8a.m. to 4p.m., or visit the district attorney’s website www.21jdda.org.

“Victims’ rights are not universal and often not enforced. Victims do not always receive the dignity and respect they deserve. Victims often absorb the physical, emotional, and financial costs of crime largely by themselves. This year’s theme encourages service providers to find “new solutions” to the “new challenges” victims face,” stated Tri-Parish Victim’s Assistance Coordinator Tameka White.

“If you are a victim of crime, we believe you have rights. Our Tri-Parish Victims Assistance Program is available to provide information and emotional support as your case proceeds through the criminal court system. It is important that the criminal justice system provide the same consideration to victims that is afforded to criminal defendants,” stated District Attorney, Scott M. Perrilloux.

A memorial portfolio, which displays a tribute to area homicide victims, can be viewed at the District Attorney’s Offices in Livingston, Tangipahoa, & St. Helena parishes. A special ceremony in honor of area homicide victims will be held on, Thursday, April 25, 2013, at 6:00p.m., at the Amite Community Center in Amite, Louisiana.

The Tri-Parish Victims’ Assistance program provides services to victims of crime with active cases in the 21st Judicial District: advocacy, education, emotional support, case notification for felony and domestic cases, court escorts, 24-hour rape crisis hotline, and a domestic violence prosecution unit. Anyone in need of these services should contact their local district attorney’s office weekdays from 8a.m. to 4p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Tameka T. White, Tri-Parish Victims Assistance Coordinator at (225)686-3070 or (985)748-7890.

Over 60 National Guard members of varied ages and backgrounds attended the event held at the US Army National Guard Training Center in Hammond.

“We discussed sexual assault statistics, services offered by the Tri-Parish Rape Crisis Program, bystander intervention, and current events in the news that involve sexual assault,” said Swank, “We also talked about the statewide primary prevention initiative of sexual assault centers to eliminate sexual violence.”

Although the soldiers have had some sexual violence prevention education in the past, they were still very interested and vocal, Swank explained. “I couldn’t answer questions quickly enough.”

Swank maintains that when presenting it is very important to facilitate discussion. She believes that creating a conversation will do more than simply telling people what to do. “After all, the primary prevention initiative is to help people change their thoughts and believes about sexual assault, and that deserves some time and discussion.”

“This was an amazing opportunity,” said Swank, “I was honored to be invited to talk to this group of leaders. In over 15 years of doing this work, I have never had the opportunity to speak to the military. I am impressed with the initiatives that our military is taking to end sexual assault by admitting that there is a problem, and putting time and effort behind training, educating, and allowing victims to report without fear.

According to Perrilloux, the mission of the District Attorney’s Tri-Parish Rape Crisis Program is to provide counseling, support, and advocacy for sexual assault victims and work toward the elimination of sexual violence with prevention education and social change. The TPRCP performs community education presentations at no cost to the hosting organization.

For more information on the TPRCP, visit the district attorney’s website at www.21jdda.org.

Students Donate More than $2,300 for Cancer Research

LIVINGSTON, LA – Students at Doyle Elementary donated more than $2,300 to the American Cancer Society this month as part of a charitable program sponsored by a school alumnus.

The newly crowned Miss Southeastern Louisiana University, Renee Picou of Livingston, is creating awareness and raising monies through her service project, Relay Recess. Students were asked to give money or have their parents sponsor them as they took part in a Relay Recess walk in the school gym or around the playground in honor of those who have experienced cancer in their lives. Some local cancer survivors also participated in the walk with the students.

“Our students really enjoyed participating in this project,” said Doyle Elementary Principal Donna Sibley. “So many of our students have family members and loved ones who have been diagnosed with cancer. They know the importance of supporting research that can help us fight this horrible disease.”

Sibley also said the students were excited about helping a “princess” who once went to their school.

“The students really responded to Renee and her program,” she said. “It’s just a great example of the good that can be accomplished by caring, successful students and community members who choose to invest themselves in projects in their home communities. They can be tremendous role models,” Sibley said.

Picou attended Doyle Elementary and is a graduate of Doyle High School. She will represent SLU and the American Cancer Society at the Miss Louisiana pageant in June in Monroe, La.

Doyle Cheerleader Sydney McCreary leads pre-K students Francheska Eslrella, Landon Deckers, Shelby Duay, Steven Smith, Abigail Breaux, Kaylea Sanders, Nicholas Andrews during the Relay Recess at Doyle Elementary.

Miss Southeastern Louisiana University Renee Picou walks in the Relay Recess at Doyle Elementary with pre-K students Marissa McCray, holding her hand, Hunter Work and Breanna Sullivan.

Cancer survivors Maxi and Bobby Wilmont walk with Doyle Elementary student Alli Wilmont during the Relay Recess at Doyle Elementary to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Also pictured in the background is second-grade teacher Sondra Palmer, who is also a cancer survivor.

Albany Middle School teachers selected the following students as Students of the Month for the month of March 2013:  front row, l to r,  5th graders, William Pankey, Stephen Kuhn, Micah Cleveland, Ally Howell, Andrea Urbina, and Walter Miller, 2nd row, 6th graders, Justin Parrish, Cameron Guillory, Heather Degenhardt, Sam Smith, Tristan Miles, and Maya Thibodeaux, standing, 7th and 8th graders, Nathanial Wilkinson, Nick Manzella, Austin Lambert, Emma Purvis, Heather Aranyosi, Sarah Centanni, Ansleigh Barras, Cameron Self, Braylee Floyd, Ryan McClelan, Simon Waguespack and Trey Mathes.

Date: 06 APRIL 2013
Time: 0930-1300
Place: American Red Cross 4623 Sherwood Commons Blvd, LA 70816

Sponsored by:

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