2023 Catholic Students of the Year

Outstanding fifth, eighth and 12th grade students from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux were recently chosen to represent their schools as 2023 Catholic School Students of the Year.

The Louisiana Catholic School Students of the Year program is open to students attending all Louisiana Catholic schools in each of the respective grades, 5, 8 and 12, that meet the criteria for eligibility. The program is designed to recognize outstanding students who have demonstrated excellence in discipleship, leadership, service, citizenship and academic achievement.

"In the past, students in our Catholic schools competed with students from any state accredited nonpublic school within our designated region, such as other Christian and charter schools. This year Catholic school superintendents across the state met and unanimously agreed to begin a Catholic Schools Student of the Year Competition due to the challenges faced with regional revisions,” explains Gerrie Byrne, diocesan associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “The proposal was brought to the State Superintendent, Dr. Cade Brumley, who agreed to support this change. As a result, Catholic school students will compete against other Catholic school students, allowing us to add a focus on discipleship which is a mission of our schools. The state winners will be recognized by BESE.”

Three candidates from the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux were selected to compete at the regional level: Fifth grader, Eleanor Straney, St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School, Thibodaux; eighth grader, Olivia Richard, St. Mary’s Nativity School, Raceland; and 12th grader, Katie Ross, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma.

Winners at the regional level go on to participate in the state competition in Lafayette.

In addition to the candidates selected to compete at the regional level, students selected to represent their schoolin diocesan competition are as follows.



Fifth Graders
Iyron Cheramie, Holy Rosary Catholic School, Larose; Camryn Falgout, St. Mary’s Nativity School, Raceland; Noah Gaudet, St. Genevieve Catholic School, Thibodaux; Lily LeBoeuf, St. Bernadette Catholic School, Houma; Khloe Pellegrin, St. Gregory Catholic School, Houma; Bryn Showalter, St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School, Houma; Mason Wisdom, Central Catholic School, Morgan City.


Eighth Graders
Marijain Burns, Holy Rosary Catholic School; Grace Champagne, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma; Abigail Clements, Central Catholic School; Mary Elizabeth Danos, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux.


12th Graders
Sarah Pate, E.D. White Catholic High School; Natalie Sloane, Central Catholic School.

A diocesan selection committee reviewed each of the candidate’s application portfolios and interviewed them on an individual basis, before choosing the diocesan winners. At a minimum, candidates must have a 3.2 grade point average during the past three years and the first grading period of the current school year. Winners on the diocesan level were evaluated on the basis of their application portfolio, which includes an application form, academic records – transcripts, report cards for the past three years and current year grade report, and standardized test results; attendance record; an autobiographical sketch; forms containing information about activities, awards pertaining to leadership – school leadership positions, extra-curricular leadership positions, community leadership positions and church leadership positions; service, discipleship and citizenship, as well as the manner in which they present themselves during the interview.

Assisting with judging at the fifth grade diocesan level were: Gerrie Byrne, diocesan associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction; Marion Collins, retired Catholic school teacher at Holy Cross Elementary School in Morgan City; and Marga Toloudis, retired school teacher.

At the eighth grade diocesan level: Marion Collins, Lozia Richard, retired school teacher at E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux; and Yvonne Weimer, retired Catholic school principal, and teacher and administrator in the Lafourche Parish Public School District.

At the 12th grade diocesan level: Gerrie Byrne, Lozia Richard and Yvonne Weimer.

A Student of the Year Breakfast was held at the Lumen Christi Retreat Center in Schriever to celebrate these extraordinary students and their accomplishments. Attending the event were the students, their parents, and the principals of the Catholic schools in the diocese.