Diocese Announces 2023 Students of Year

The Office of Catholic Schools announces the Diocese of Lake Charles 2023 Student of the Year winners for elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Winners are Coleman Zeringue, Grade 12, St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles; Presley Manceaux, Grade 8, St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School in Lake Charles; and Camille Brandon, Grade 5, Our Lady's Catholic School in Sulphur.

Coleman is the son of Jason and Erin Zeringue, and Presley is the daughter of Travis and Lacy Manceaux, all of Lake Charles. Camille is the daughter of Jonathan and Kemoshia Brandon of DeQuincy.

The winners were chosen from the school level Students of the Year on Friday, January 27, in the Ave Maria Hall of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. They advance to the state competition in Lafayette on Thursday, March 2, to compete in the inaugural Louisiana Catholic Student of the Year Program.

The competition is open to Catholic schools in the state’s seven dioceses — Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Houma-Thibodaux, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans.The program is designed to recognize outstanding students in grades 5, 8, and 12 who have demonstrated excellence in discipleship, leadership, service, citizenship, and academic achievement.

Other winners at the school level were:

• Immaculate Conception Cathedral School (Lake Charles): Grade 8 — Addison Rasberry, daughter of Melissa Rasberry; Grade 5 — Emma Harrell, daughter of Dr. Brian and Lauren Harrell. All are of Lake Charles.
• St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School (Lake Charles): Grade 5 — Shelby Chapman, daughter of Michael and Whitney Chapman, under the guardianship of Seth and Stacey Chapman David of Lake Charles.
• Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School (Jennings): Grade 8 — Molly Person, daughter of Jeff and Carly Person of Jennings; Grade 5 — Charli Guillory, daughter of Chase and Shelly Guillory of Roanoke.
• Our Lady’s Catholic School (Sulphur): Grade 8 — Kyle Patin, son of Kevin and Vicky Patin of Vinton.

Winners were selected for the Diocesan Student of the Year honor based on academic achievement, school organization participation, community service, leadership activities, an essay writing assignment, and an interview with a panel of five judges.