St. Edmund School kicked off its Catholic School Week celebration by named Students of the Year, Teachers of the Year, and Supporter of the Year during Mass Monday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.
Students of the Year are Kaden Thompson as Fifth Grade Student of the Year; Philippe Soileau is Eighth Grade Student of the Year; Olivia McDaniel is honored with Twelfth Grade Student of The Year.
Angelle Manuel was named High School Teacher of the Year; and named St. Edmund Elementary Teacher of the Year is Erica Zaunbrecher.
Receiving Supporter of the Year is Lisa DeVillier.
At the conclusion of Monday’s Mass Principal Charles Hazard named all the school’s honorees.
He added, “Each year, St. Edmund Catholic School participates in the Louisiana Department of Education’s Student of the Year program.
“This program is designed to recognize outstanding elementary, middle/junior high, and high school students. This program is an excellent opportunity to recognize from each school system those students who have demonstrated excellent academic achievement.
“The criteria are set by the Louisiana Department of Education for all schools to follow. Students in the fifth, eighth, and twelfth grades with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or above are eligible to participate in the program.”
Kaden Thompson is the son of James and Kimberly Thompson of Eunice.
Kaden’s activities (grades 3-5) include: St. Anthony altar server-2017-2018; St. Edmund color guard-2015-2018; Pack 430 Cub Scouts-2015-2018; St. Edmund basketball player-2015-2018; Eunice Ro tary Club annual Food Drive volunteer 2015-2018; Toys for Tots participant-2015-2018; Miles Perret Foundation participant-2015-2018; Box Tops for Education participant-2015-2018.
Kaden’s honors and awards (grades 3-5) at St. Edmund include: St. Edmund Young Christian award-2016; Honor Roll-2015-2018; Blue Book Award-2015-2017; Blue Jay of the Week-2015-2018; AR awardee (most points earned)-2015-2017; Summer Reading Program Awardee-2015-2016; DARE-2017-2018; Cub Scout honors: Pope John Paul II Religious Emblem-2017-2018, Ave Maria Religious Emplem-2016-2017, Parvuli Dei Religious Emblem-2016-2016, First place Acadia District Pinewood Derby-2016-2017, Second place Acadia District Pinewood Derby-2015-2016; St. Edmund Field Day Awards-2015-2017; Camp Ozark, Mt. Ida Arkansas F.I.T.(First Is Third)-2017 and Recognition Of Achievement for Appreciative and The Value Of Friendship-2015-2016.
Philippe Soileau is the recipient of the Eighth Grade Student of the Year and is the son of Andre and Beth Soileau of Eunice.
Philippe’s leadership positions include: Junior National Beta Vice-President-2015-2016; Sixth Grade Class Vice-President-2015-2016; Seventh Grade Class President-2016-2017; Middle School Chess Club President/Founder-2016-2018.
Philippe’s school activities include: Jr. Beta Club Member-2015-2018; FBLA member-2017-2018; Library Club member-2016-2017; Quiz Bowl member-2017-2018; Chess Club member-2016-2018; St. Edmund fifth and sixth grade baseball player-2015-2016; St. Edmund fifth and sixth grade football player-2014-2015; St. Edmund basketball player-2014-2016; St. Edmund seventh and eighth-grade Football Statistician-2017; Eunice Baseball player-2008-2012; Eunice Football player-2013; Eunice Flag Football player-2012; Eunice Soccer player-2008-2012; St. Landry Parish Gifted/Talented Arts Program member-2011-2018; Duke Tip Student-2014-2018; First place in St. Edmund Spring Fair Poster-2015; Cub Scout member-2010-2015; Volunteer at Eunice Community Food Bank-2014-2017.
Philippe’s honors and awards at St. Edmund include: Top Reader in AR program-2016-2017; St. Edmund Principal’s Honor Roll-2015-2018; Honor Roll-2017-2018; St. Edmund Young Christian Award-2015; ACT Score Of 20 (Tops Qualifying)-2017; International Day first place Overall-2015; and International Day Outstanding Knowledge Of The Country (Australia)-2015.
Olivia McDaniel is honored as the Twelfth Grade Student of the Year at St. Edmund High. She is the daughter of Thomas and Jessica McDaniel Of Ville Platte.
Olivia’s leadership positions at the high school include: Captain of Varsity Dance Team-2016-2018; and Student Council Class Representative-2017-2018.
Olivia’s school activities include: St. Edmund Dance Team-2014-2018; Literary Rally-2014-2018; National Honor Society-2015-2018; National Junior Honor Society-2014-2015; Act 22+Club-2015-2018; Junior Quiz Bowl member-2015-2016; Varsity Quiz Bowl member-2016-2018; St. Edmund softball-2014-2018; St. Edmund basketball statistician-2015-2018; St. Edmund Ministry team-2017-2018; FBLA-2015-2017; St. Anthony Lecturer-2016-2018; Attended the D.C. Right To Life March-2017; Organized and facilitated the St. Edmund Cheer and Dance Clinic-2015-2017; Served at The Eunice Rotary Club’s Administrative Professional’s Day Luncheon-2014-2017; Participated and volunteered in The St. Edmund Radio Auction, Spring Fair, Crawfish Bowl, and St. Edmund’s Sports Banquet-2015-2018.
Olivia’s honors and awards at the high school include: District Literary Rally: First place in Algebra I-2014, First place in Spanish I-2015, First place in Spanish II-2016; FBLA District Conference: Superior rating In Word Processing-2015 and 2016, Excellent rating in Business Communications-2015, Excellent rating In Business Ethics-2016; Catholic Daughters Of The Americas-secondd place In Court Photograghy-2015; St. Edmund Top Student (Highest class average)-Sophomore and junior Year; St. Edmund Junior Class Most Spirited-2016; 5-1A All-District Honorable Mention In Softball-2016; and UDA All American Dancer-2016-2017.
Angelle Manuel is St. Edmund High School Teacher of the Year.
Manuel has 10 years of teaching experience under her ‘belt.’ She serves as lead numeracy teacher. She is the ACT 22+ Club sponsor and chairman of the Academic Pep Rally.
Manuel was honored and surprised with the recognition. She added, “When you are doing something you love, you don’t work a day in your life.”
Erica Zaunbrecher was named St. Edmund Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Zaunbrecher has 15 years of teaching experience. She provides daily physical education instruction for elementary classes. Zaunbrecher is the high school girls basketball coach and also serves as Assistant athletic director for St. Edmund.
Lisa DeVillier was named Supporter of the Year at St. Edmund School. She has spent the last 11 years volunteering at St. Edmund in her spare time.
DeVillier frequently serves as a volunteer substitute teacher. She is often on the sidelines as a volunteer coach for the school’s elementary softball teams.
DeVillier can often be found at any athletic event working to ensure a smooth and successful event. She has served as the chairman of the homecoming committee for the last five years and chairman of the Butterfly Ball, a father and daughter dance, committee.
