St. Edmund Catholic High School held its Seniors Awards ceremony Thursday, May 16.
The program honors and recognizes seniors in all areas of high school including leadership, service, academics, sports, clubs, civic and college scholarships and special awards.
The senior class president Carter LeJeune performed the traditional passing of the candles to the St. Ed junior class.
LeJeune said, “Each year the passing of the candle plays a very important part in our ceremony.
“We, the seniors of 2019, give to you juniors our light. This is the light of knowledge, leadership, and most importantly the light of Christ. Carry it proudly because it lights the way for those who come after you.
“You are the new leaders of St. Edmund Catholic High School. Hold your light high, guard it carefully because it symbolizes both the joy and the responsibility of being the seniors of 2020.
Students receiving the honor of Summa Cum Laude, and have taken all honors courses offered at St. Edmund, and have a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 are Valedictorian Anna Heinen, Salutatorian Avery McGee, Gabriella Bertrand and Logan Landry.
Students receiving the honor of Magna Cum Laude, have taken all honor courses offered at St. Edmund Catholic School, and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.99 -3.75 are Christopher Berzas, Olivia Clark, Katherine Fontenot and Olivia Fuselier.
Students receiving the honor of Cum Laude, have taken all honor courses offered at St. Edmund Catholic School, and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.74 - 3.50 areDawson Ardoin, Kaden Fontenot, Garet Hebert, and Jacques Soileau.
Students receiving the honor of Distinguished Honor Student, have taken some honor courses offered at St. Edmund Catholic School, and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher are Dustie Deshotel and Caleb Fontenot.
The United Blood Services Red Cord Program: Blood Heroes honors graduating seniors that help their community by donating blood during their senior year.
Any student who donates twice within the senior year is eligible to receive a red & blue cord. Those students receiving a cord are Olivia Clark, Tyler Fonville, Carter LeJeune, Brad Miller, Jack Miller, Auston Poncho and Drew Zaunbrecher.
Students scoring above the national average with a socre of a 22 or higher of the ACT are Dawson Ardoin, Gabriella Bertrand, Christopher Berzas, Olivia Clark, Katherine Fontenot, Olivia Fuselier, Garet Hebert, Anna Heinen, Logan Landry, Avery McGee and Jacques Soileau.
Avery McGee received a plaque of recognition for service and leadership as a student council president.
Anna Heinen received a plaque of recognition for her role as national honor society president.
Mr. and Miss SEH isvoted on by all high school teachers and the one girl and the one boy with most votes receive this honor. Brock Bieber received the honor of Mr. SEH and Anna Heinen received the honor of Miss SEH.
The Hall of Fame is voted on by all senior students and consists of a minimum of eight senior students to include four boys and four girls. The Hall of Fame seniors are Gabriella Bertrand, Christopher Berzas, Brock Bieber, Katherine Fontenot, Anna Heinen, Avery McGee, Brad Miller and Jack Miller.
Medals of recognition were given to students for having the highest cumulative average in different subject areas.
Anna Heinen had the highest cumulative average in all five subject areas this year, English, mathematics, science, social studies, and Spanish.
The Religion awards is an award is given to one boy and one girl who have demonstrated and upheld the Christian values of faith. This years’ recipients are Christopher Berzas and Anna Heinen.
Senior students who participated and placed in the District Literary Rally held in 2016 and 2017, with first place winners receive a $50 per year LSUE scholarship. In the District Literary Rallies held in 2018 and 2019, first place winners receive a $100 LSUE scholarship. Students are: Gabriella Bertrand, 2019 – First place in English IV, $100.
In 2016, first place in English I, $50 per year, recipient isChristopher Berzas.
In 2019, first place in physics, $100; 2018, first place in geometry, $100, and 2017, first place in US History, $100, was Olivia Clark.
In 2018, first Place in chemistry, $100, and 2016, first place in algebra I, $50 per year, recipient is Dustie Deshotel.
In 2019, first place in environmental science, $100, and 2017, first place in Spanish I, $50 per year, recipient was Katherine Fontenot.
In 2017, first place in biology, $50 per year, and 2016, first place in physical science, $50 per year, recipient is Olivia Fuselier.
In 2019, first place in Fine Arts Survey, $100 is Anna Claire Heinen.
In 2019, first place in psychology, $100, is Avery McGee.
In 2019, frist place in Advanced Math Pre-calculus, $100, 2019 first place in speech, $100, 2017, first place in English II, $50 per year, recipient is Austin Poncho.
In 2018, second place in English III, Jacques Soileau, and Soileau in 2019 placed first in World History,$100, in 2018 first place in Spanish II, $100.
In the state Literary Rally, students who placed receive medals.
Avery McGee, In 2019 placed an Outstanding Score of Good in Speech-Interpretive Reading.
The Rodney Edmund Landreneau, Jr. M.D. Memorial Award has been established to honor a senior who has demonstrated love, compassion, dedication, and service to our community. In addition, the senior must have performed well in foreign language, History, and science, and participated in athletics. This year’s recipient is Avery McGee.
The Gracie Marie Zaunbrecher Memorial Scholarship is a cash award given to a senior. A family member of Gracie presented the award, and said, “As you are all aware, Gracie touched each and every one of us in a special way. Through her loving spirit and kind heart, she embodied what we are called to do as the hands and feet of Christ. Throughout her courageous battle against DIPG, she exemplified the true meaning of Christ’s love and grace, never thinking of herself and always trying to make everyone feel loved and special.
“She taught and continues to teach us as a community to be selfless and to be better servants of Christ.
“The recipient of this award was chosen by the family, not for academic or athletic achievements, but for displaying outstanding Christian values. This person truly exemplifies all of the characteristics that Gracie possessed and has a way of bringing those around her closer to Christ.
“The Zaunbrecher family is proud to present this scholarship in memory of their sweet little angel to Anna Heinen in the amount of $500.
Kelsey Griffith, with Sirius Technologies, presented the Stephanie Vidrine Memorial scholarships.
The Stephanie Vidrine Memorial Scholarships are given to students interested in pursuing an education in the medical field. This year the scholarships are presented to Logan Landry and Avery McGee each in the amount of $1,000.
Pedestal Bank of Eunice’s Be Inspired Scholarship is given this year to Logan Landry in the amount of $10,000.
David Crader of the American Legion presented an award to Anna Heinen and Christopher Berzas for exhibiting character, courage, scholarship, leadership, and service.
Gene Olivier of the VFW Post 8971 presented a scholarship award to Avery McGee in the amount of $1,000.
The Duralde Knights of Columbus Catholic Youth Leadership Award in the amount of $200 recipient is Christopher Berzas.
The Ross Andrus Memorial Scholarship has been established by Michelle and Mike Andrus to assist a deserving student who will be attending a Technical College and majoring in a technical program in memory of Ross Andrus, St. Edmund Catholic School Class of 2008. This year the award was presented to Drew Zaunbrecher in the amount of $1,000.
The Tony Fuselier Memorial Scholarship has also been established by Michelle and Mike Andrus in loving memory of Mr. Tony Fuselier, St. Edmund Catholic School Class of 1971. This year the award was presented to Garet Hebert in the amount of $500.
The Woodman of the World American History Award is given to the student who has the highest average in American History. This year, the award went to Anna Heinen.
The Woodman Life Scholarship America award in the amount of $500 and The Woodman Life Louis P. Ledet Sr. Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 were presented to Christopher Berzas.
The Morrow, Morrow, Ryan, and Bassett Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 went to Nicholas Savoy.
The St. Landry Parish Hospital Service District Scholarships are scholarships given to two students who plan to pursue careers in the field of medicine in the amount of $500 for each student. This year, these awards went to Logan Landry and Avery McGee.
The St. Edmund Parent Teacher Club Academic Scholarships, presented in the amount of $250 each, went to Anna Heinen as the Valedictorian and to Avery McGee as the Salutatorian of the Class of 2019.
The Southwest District Showmanship Scholarships, each in the amount of $1,500, went to Kaden Fontenot and Katherine Fontenot.
The Eunice Kiwanis Club Scholarship in the amount of $500 recipient was Logan Landry.
The Captain Jim Smith Award and the JD Bank of Eunice Scholarships were awarded. The Captain Jim Smith Award is a $300 cash award given by John and Connie Baham. The award this year went to Nicholas Savoy.
The Jeff Davis Bank of Eunice Scholarship, in the amount of $400, was presented to Katherine Fontenot.
Two Rotary Club scholarships, each in the amount of $500, and will be sent directly to the LSUE bookstore, were awarded to Katherine Fontenot and Avery McGee.
LSU Eunice awards scholarship certificates to the following students. These scholarships have been made possible through private donors and/or institutional funds. Student Scholarship: Dawson Ardoin, Vision Scholarship, $1,000; Gabrielle Bertrand, Vision Scholarship, $1,000; Christopher Berzas, Centennial Honor Scholarship, $4,000; Olivia Clark, Ville Platte Rotary Club Scholarship, $2,000; Garet Hebert, Vision Scholarship, $1,000; Logan Landry, John & Geneva Lintzen Manuel Memorial Scholarship, $2,000; Avery McGee, Centennial Honor Scholarship, $4,250 and Eunice Chamber of Commerce Scholarship of $500.
Student Scholarships recipients are Christopher Berzas, McNeese State University, John McNeese Scholars Award of $16,000.
Avery McGee, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Merit Award of $28,000, Northwestern State University, LA Girl’s State Award of $500.
Jacques Soileau, Louisiana State University, LA Tiger Legacy Merit Scholarship, of $2,000.
The State of Louisiana awards tuition scholarships to those students who have attended qualified schools for at least two years prior to graduation. These awards are contingent on the State of Louisiana’s financial budget each year. Provided that the state has money to be allocated to TOPS for the next fiscal year, the following students are anticipated to receive TOPS Scholarships based on the current school data. The State of Louisiana still must verify student grades and issue final TOPS GPAs.
Students who have earned a 2.5 TOPS grade point average in the TOPS Core Curriculum and scored at least a 20 on the ACT are awarded the TOPS Opportunity scholarship, which includes tuition.
The following students are anticipated to receive this award:Gabrielle Bertrand, Olivia Clark, Dustie Deshotel, Olivia Fuselier, Jack Miller and Aubriana York.
Students who have earned a 3.0 TOPS grade point average in the TOPS Core Curriculum and scored at least a 23 on the ACT are awarded the TOPS Performance scholarship. This includes tuition, certain fees, and a $400 stipend per year.
The following students are anticipated to receive this award: Dawson Ardoin, Christopher Berzas, Katherine Fontenot, Garet Hebert, Anna Claire Heinen, Logan Landry and Jacques Soileau.
Students who have earned a 3.0 TOPS grade point average in the TOPS Core Curriculum and scored at least a 27 on the ACT are awarded the TOPS Honors scholarship which includes tuition, certain fees, and an $800 stipend per year.
The following student is anticipated to receive this award: Avery McGee.
The total anticipated Tops Awards are in the amount of $339,746.
The Beverly Wyble Memorial Award is given to a female student who has the highest academic average and who has participated in two sports and the Stanislaus Wyble Memorial Award goes to a male student with the highest academic average and has participated in two sports.
This year, the Beverly Wyble Award went to Avery McGee, and the Stanislaus Wyble Award was awarded to Christopher Berzas.
The Shelby John Manuel Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $100, is awarded to a very deserving senior by St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and is proudly awarded this year to Aubriana York.
The Service Scholarship awards are given in the amount of $200 each to young people who have served the St. Anthony Church community faithfully as altar servers from the fifth-grade through their senior year. Receiving Service Scholarship awards are: Avery McGee, Brad Miller, Jack Miller, Austin Poncho and Garet Hebert.
Principal Charles Hazard at St. Edmund presented the St. Edmund Catholic School Distinguished Service Award.
Hazard said, “The Distinguished Service Award is presented to one senior student who has rendered four years of generous service to St. Edmund Catholic School.
“The senior class votes on the recipient, then the top two boys’ and the top two girls’ names are submitted to the faculty for all high school teachers to select one student from the nominees chosen by the senior class.
The 2019 Distinguished Service award recipient is Katherine Fontenot.
The total TOPS and Scholarship Awards amounts for St. Edmund Class of 2019 is $430,996.
