NOCCA: New Orleans Center for Creative Arts visual arts student Jeriel Severino De La Rosa has been selected as a recipient of the QuestBridge Scholarship. De La Rosa, selected from among 17,000 applicants across the country, will be attending Rice University in Texas with a full scholarship. QuestBridge connects high-achieving high school seniors with 48 of the leading institutions of higher education and further opportunities.
BROTHER MARTIN HIGH: Eighteen Crusader band members have been chosen for the Louisiana Music Educators Association honors bands. Martin Nuila, Sam Dinshaw and Lamar Allen were selected for 2023 LMEA All-State band as well as for the Senior High Honor Band. Others selected for Senior High Honor Band are Alex Ng, Logan Drouet, Jake Verret, Jacob Giroir, Tim Hilbun, Jacob Milner, Sam Vollenweider, Walker Shilling, Gabriel Law and Andrew Cooper. Selected for the Junior High Honor Band are Michael Chalona, Luke Cox, Michael Verret, Sean Vollenweider and Aidan Lapene.
ETHEL SCHOEFFNER ELEMENTARY: Amanda Morgan has been named the school’s Teacher of the Year. Morgan teaches third grade English Language Arts. She holds a bachelor’s in communication studies from LSU, a master’s in elementary education from UNO and a master’s in educational leadership from Southeastern.
ST. BERNARD PARISH SCHOOLS: District Students of the Year from the parish for 2023-2024 are Raelynn Prestenbach, a fifth grader at Joseph J. Davies Elementary, representing elementary schools; Kinlee Pohlmann, an eighth grader at St. Bernard Middle School, representing middle schools; and Aniya Harris, Chalmette High School, representing high schools. The students were chosen by a panel of judges including community leaders and educators, based on formal assessments, a writing sample, a portfolio, and an interview.
ST. CHARLES PARISH SCHOOLS: The parish’s Students of the Year were recognized at a ceremony on Dec. 7. Thanuja Parasuraman of St. Rose Elementary School, Isabella LeBlanc of R.K. Smith Middle School and Sean Baltazar of Destrehan High School were named the district Students of the Year. They will move on to compete in the regional contest in 2024. The Students of the Year for individual schools are Ryleigh Adams, Ethel Schoeffner Elementary; Amelie Fuselier, Lakewood Elementary; Alice Barrett, Luling Elementary; Patia Jones, Norco Elementary; Katie Babin, R.J. Vial Elementary; Thanuja Parasuraman, St. Rose Elementary; Sean Baltazar, Destrehan High; Aaron Zhang, Hahnville High; Juliana Santos, Albert Cammon Middle; Violet Bordes, Harry Hurst Middle; Jackson Porter, J.B. Martin Middle; and Isabella LeBlanc, R.K. Smith Middle.
ST. ROSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: PE students were part of setting a World Sports Stacking Association world record for the “Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations.” These students were part of the 746,698 speed stacking participants from more than 2,242 schools and organizations. From Ruth Fahrig’s second grade class were Madison Clark, Anthony Birden, Jurnee Anderson, Eshaal Ali, Kamilee Lopez, Skylar Jenkins, Aaron Osorto, Eastyn Encardes, Koi Collins, Nas Sharpe, Norlen Rosales, Evelin Reyes, Zion Permillion, Carter Noil, King Williams, Jayce Washington, Mario Tuco and Demoni Thompson. From Kaitlyn Restel’s fourth grade class were Sawyer Cerniglia, Sophia Martinez, Ramayah Long, Keity Canjura, Seamus Stark, Bianka Martinez, Asenet Osorto Neriah Bell, Giselle Mitchell, Brayden Angle and Trinity Thomas.
NOCCA: New Orleans Center for Creative Arts is accepting applications for auditions for the 2024-2025 school year through Jan. 19 for middle and high school students interested in full-day academic studio, half day and after-school arts training in creative writing, culinary arts, dance, entertainment production design, media arts: filmmaking & audio production, classical instrumental music, jazz instrumental music, classical vocal music, drama, musical theater and visual arts. www.nocca.com.