Two Vermilion Parish students in running for state Student of the Year

BATON ROUGE The Louisiana Department of Education named 24 students as finalists in the state’s annual Students of the Year competition and two are from Vermilion Parish.
The honorees include one 5th, 8th, and 12th grader from each of the state’s eight BESE regions.
The two from Vermilion are: Sydney Mouton is a fifth grade student at Rene Rost Middle School, and Braydin Clostio, who is a senior at North Vermilion High School.
Vermilion Parish Superintendent Tommy Byler said, “Being name a finalist for student of the year is an amazing accomplishment. The last time the parish had a finalist was in 2016 and 17 and that was Karina Chargois from Renee Ross Middle.
“To have two finalists in the same year is unheard of. For Bradin and Sydney to get to this level of the competition in the same year is a testament to the great students that they are.”
The annual competition includes students from traditional public, charter, and non-public schools. Finalists will convene at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge on April 19 for an awards ceremony and the announcement of the Louisiana Students of the Year winners.
“These young people have worked hard and put in the sacrifices necessary to achieve at the highest levels,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “Louisiana is proud to reward excellence. Congratulations to our finalists and their families on this well-deserved honor.”
Students are selected based on criteria that measure academic achievement, leadership skills, character, and service to their schools and communities. Regional selection committees also use student-made portfolios of accomplishments, along with student writing samples and interviews to assess the communications and critical thinking skills of each candidate.
Finalists were selected among student of the year winners from schools across the state. All Louisiana schools were eligible to submit one candidate. Students compete with their peers at the school system level and may advance to the zone and regional competitions.
Prior to selecting the three state winners, the state selection committee will conduct interviews and review writing samples and a portfolio from each finalist.