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Several from Vermilion Parish receive degrees from McNeese State University

Mon, 05/23/2022 - 2:51pm

McNeese State University conferred degrees on 756 graduates during the 158th commencement ceremonies May 13 in Burton Coliseum.
The spring Class of 2022 included graduates from 33 parishes, 18 states and 30 countries and 771 degrees were awarded, including 29 associate degrees, 633 bachelor’s degrees, 108 master’s degrees and one education specialist degree.
Spring graduates from Vermilion Parish are:

ABBEVILLE: Katlyn Marie Luquette, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

ERATH: Jennifer Suzanne Power, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

GUEYDAN: Maria A. Marceaux, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Laura Popeck, Master of Science in Nursing

KAPLAN: Sidney C. Dartez, Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance, General; Mallory M. Meaux, Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences; Deborah L. Mire, Master of Science in Nursing

MAURICE: Joi R. Norman, Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management

Vermilion Parish School System halfway done hiring for 150 teacher/support personnel positions

Mon, 05/23/2022 - 2:41pm

It is that time of the school year when the hiring begins for the Vermilion Parish Public School system.
While teachers and students are counting down the days before the school year ends, there are those in the central office who kicked into the hiring mode.
Assistant Superintendent Paul Hebert, who is retiring in January, and his staff is busy trying to find people to fill 160 open positions. The positions range from teachers, secretaries, principals, assistant principals, lunchroom operators, and janitors.
The good news is that as of Thursday, Hebert had 75 out of the 150 positions filled.
“That is a lot of positions open,” said Hebert. “It is more than we have had in the past.”
A majority of the empty positions were one-year-only employees, so their jobs had to be reopened at the end of the school year. Also, for those who filled in teaching slots that were not certified, those teaching positions are opened back up.
Over the next month, the hiring will continue, added Hebert.
Hebert said in other school districts, the district has the choice to reopen the position or not if the district was satisfied with the person who filled the job this past school year.
Also, other school districts have job fairs to try and recruit teachers. However, vermilion Parish never has job fairs, and Hebert said there is a reason.
Vermilion Parish is one of the few parishes with a union for educators. The union known as the Vermilion Association of Educators (VAE) has guidelines the school district must follow when hiring personnel.
Because of the VAE guidelines, Hebert said Vermilion could not hire teachers at a job fair like other school districts. Instead, the VAE guidelines state that Vermilion has to advertise the job opening for a week and then interview those who applied.
“It hurts us because it delays the process,” Hebert said. “We can not hire them on the spot.”
He gave the example of trying to recruit new UL graduates who recently graduated in education. A school district other than Vermilion can promise recent college graduates a job on the spot, but Vermilion can not. Hebert said all they can do is do their best to try and encourage the new graduate to apply to Vermilion Parish.
Hebert is confident that by the start of school in August, most of the jobs will be filled.

The Erath Police will be on the look out for adults not wearing their seat belts, along with children being buckled up properly.

‘Click It Or Ticket’ underway in Erath

Mon, 05/23/2022 - 2:38pm

Erath police officers are stepping up seat belt enforcement ahead of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
The Erath Police Department for the next few weeks will be on the look out for drivers and passengers 15 and younger who don’t wear their seat belts.
The annual “Click It Or Ticket” campaign comes just before the start one of the most active travel weekends of the year.
It will be held starting May 23 and runs through June 5.
A ticket in Erath for not wearing a seat belt is $52.
“I feel like Click It or Ticket It Campaign is important because it is focused on savings lives,” said Erath Police Chief Anna Lapointe.
Funding for the campaign is provided by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
In addition to increased patrols, Erath Police Chief Anna LaPointe wants to educate drivers and passengers on the dangers of unbuckled driving and the correct way to buckle up safely:

Consequences of not wearing a seat belt

Buckling up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle, whereas not buckling up can result in being totally ejected from the vehicle in a crash, which is almost always deadly.
Air bags are not enough to protect you; in fact, the force of an airbag can seriously injure or even kill you if you’re not buckled up.
Improperly wearing a seat belt, such as putting the strap below your arm, puts you and your children at risk in a crash.

Guidelines to buckle up safely

The lap belt and shoulder belt are secured across the pelvis and rib cage, which are better able to withstand crash forces than other parts of your body.
Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck.
The lap belt rests across your hips, not your stomach.
NEVER put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm.

Iberia Parish Crash Claims Life of Abbeville Man

Sun, 05/22/2022 - 11:13am

IBERIA PARISH – At approximately 1:10 a.m. on May 22, 2022, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I were notified of a single-vehicle crash on Darnall Road just north of US Highway 90 in Iberia Parish. The crash claimed the life of 48-year-old Donavar Yancy of Abbeville.

The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as Yancy was driving a 2016 Mercedes 350 west on US 90 West Frontage Road. For reasons still under investigation, Yancy failed to negotiate a curve and ran off the roadway. Upon doing so the vehicle overturned several times, coming to rest on its roof near the center of Darnall Road.

Yancy was unrestrained at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. A toxicology sample was obtained for analysis and this crash remains under investigation.

Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists that, while not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a crash rise significantly when properly restrained. Making good choices while in motor vehicles such as never driving while impaired and always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained can often mean the difference between life and death.

Troop I has investigated 15 fatal crashes resulting in 17 deaths in 2022.

Mark Shirley introduces third graders to a live alligator during a recent Wetland Days event.

Sea Grant Agent Mark Shirley Named Alumnus of the Year

Fri, 05/20/2022 - 9:27am

Abbeville resident inducted into LSU School Renewable Natural Resources/Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Hall of Fame

Louisiana Sea Grant and LSU AgCenter marine extension agent Mark Shirley has been inducted into the Louisiana State University School of Renewable Natural Resources/Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Hall of Fame as Alumnus of the Year for 2022.
Nominations must be made by School of Renewable Natural Resources (RNR) faculty members, and all 28 RNR faculty members vote on the nominations. The Hall of Fame was re-established in 2007, and Shirley makes the 30th inductee since that time.
Shirley has served as a coastal resources extension agent since 1984, developing numerous education programs in the areas coastal ecology, fisheries biology and resource management. To parallel his adult outreach efforts, he founded the Marsh Maneuvers Coastal Education Camp in 1987. Since then, this program has expanded through various sponsors into a series of four-day camping sessions held each July. The program is now well-recognized as an intensive wetland odyssey featuring a range of educational activities related to coastal ecology, wetland loss and key social issues affecting the health and economic well-being of Louisiana’s coastal communities, his nomination states.
Shirley also is a highly respected communicator of coastal science and marine policy with adult audiences. As an aquaculture and fisheries extension specialist, his technical expertise on alligator and crawfish production has been extremely helpful to producers throughout Louisiana. He has served as secretary of the Louisiana Alligator Farmers Association for most of his career and has been instrumental in helping to build the political will and funding needed for an alligator research laboratory at the Ben Hur Aquaculture Research Station in Baton Rouge, the nomination added.
Shirley has been a contributing author of crawfish farming newsletters for more than two decades and has provided scientific advice and best practice recommendations to thousands of individual pond owners and coastal wetland managers. He has been a strong recruiter and supporter of RNR, as well collaborator on RNR funded research projects, the nomination concluded.
Shirley was inducted into the Hall of Fame in a May 19 ceremony.

Alvin J. Minnick, Jr.

Fri, 05/20/2022 - 9:12am

ABBEVILLE – A home-going celebration of life for Alvin Joseph Minnick, Jr., 64, will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, May 23, 2022, at Greater Rose Hill Baptist Church (1515 Israel Parker Drive, Abbeville, LA 70510). Rev. John Allen (Pastor), Rev. Walter August, Jr. will officiate.
He will await the resurrection in Saint Mary Congregational Church Cemetery in Grosse Isle, LA.
Visitation hours will be observed at Greater Rose Hill Baptist Church on Monday, May 23, 2022, at 8:00 A.M. until the time of the service.
Masks are required to attend the service.
A resident of Abbeville, LA, he transitioned at 2:50 P.M. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Abbeville, LA.
“Pumpkin” as he known by many, was born in Abbeville, LA on October 17, 1957, to the union of Alvin Minnick, Sr. and Lizzie Lee Minnick. He was a graduate of Meaux High School in Meaux, LA. Shortly after graduation, Alvin Jr. relocated to Joliet, IL, where he spent many years before returning home to Abbeville, LA. He had a love for all his kids as well as his grandkids.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his father: Alvin Minnick, Sr., of Abbeville, LA; nine children: Andrea Minnick-Willis, Lizzie Minnick Babineaux (Reese) both of Lafayette, LA; April Minnick, Nicholas Dillard, Greyson Minnick all of Abbeville, LA, Betty Bray of Wisconsin, Crystal Minnick of Chicago, IL, Jermaine Barrett (Caesha) of Danville, IL, and Javon Barrett (Shelly) of Phoenix, AZ; eight step-children: Gikenzey Brown and Chance Brown both of Houston, TX, DeShawn Davis, Denijel Davis, Jaden Williams, Zyrie Williams, Samayah Williams all of Abbeville, LA, and Kaylor Davenport of Abbeville, LA; eleven siblings: Alfred Minnick, Sr. (Connie), Ada Minnick, and Richard Minnick all of Abbeville, LA, Sandra Overstreet, Sharon Price, Amy Thomas (Rich) of San Diego, CA, Kathleen Taylor of Las Vegas, NV, Brian Ardoin of Abbeville, LA, Courtney Soelv (Porsche) of Harker Heights, TX, Ashely Soelv Smith (Johnathan) of Baton Rouge, LA and Kristy Soelv of Los Angeles, CA; his significant other: Sade Williams of Abbeville, LA; twenty-one grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife: Gina Minnick; one son: Nathan Dillard; mother: Lizzie Lee Comeaux; grandparents: John Minnick, Sr. and Amy Levy Minnick; one son-in-law: Roderick Willis.
Active pallbearers are Chris Lee, Raymond Perry, Charles Lee, Bobby Milton, Percy Baloney, and Leonard Green.
Honorary pallbearers are Alvin Joseph Minnick, Sr., Alfred Minnick, Sr., Richard Minnick, Anthony Minnick, Greyson Minnick, John Minnick, Sr., Nicholas Dillard, and Chance Brown.
Condolences may be expressed at www.fletcherfuneralhomes.org
Arrangements are entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Home (337-893-2440) 1116 Green Street Abbeville, LA 70510.

Chris Landry / The Abbeville Meridional
Twin Parish Port Commission Director Wendell Verret (center) introduces Dwight’s Restaurant owner Dwight Breaux (right) and general manager Brandy Mitchell (left) to the Delcambre Board of Aldermen on Monday. Breaux and his daughter, Mitchell, are planning to build a Dwight’s on the Bayou restaurant at Bayou Carlin Cove, and plan to have a music stage as well as volleyball and cornhole tournaments at the site, as well as fishing tournaments based there.

New restaurant planned at Bayou Carlin Cove

Thu, 05/19/2022 - 1:43pm

Delcambre tables annexation of site for month to look into costs, lease issues

Chris Lanadry

DELCAMBRE — A proposal to bring a Dwight’s on the Bayou restaurant to Bayou Carlin Cove is an exciting prospect for the town of Delcambre, Mayor Pam Blakely said at Monday’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen, but the board opted to table the annexation of Bayou Carlin Cove until next month’s board meeting while costs and lease issues are looked into.
“We’re ready to move forward,” Blakely said. “We’re excited. We want this.”
“We are, too,” said Brandy Mitchell, general manager of Dwight’s Restaurant located on Johnston Street in Lafayette.
Mitchell and Dwight Breaux, owners of the restaurant, handed out preliminary site plans for the proposed restaurant at Bayou Carlin Cove. Breaux said later that Mitchell is Breaux’s daughter and would be the owner of Dwight’s on the Bayou, the restaurant at Bayou Carlin Cove.
“This is something that we’ve been talking about since January or February of this year. We are trying to figure out what we really want to do out there, what will work for the city and everyone else involved,” Mitchell said. “We want to bring revenue to Delcambre, and we feel like this will do the job. On top of the food, bringing live music, bringing fishing tournaments, bringing cornhole tournaments, bringing volleyball tournaments, so this is just a few examples of how we’d like to lay out the property.”
Wendell Verret, port director for the Twin Parish Port Commission, proposed annexing Bayou Carlin Cove. The port district goes from Bayou Petit Anse to the Abbeville airport and from U.S. 90 to Vermilion Bay.
“Our purpose is economic development within our district,” Verret said. “For many years we’ve been trying to bring projects to Delcambre and Erath and bring jobs to the community and the area.”
Bayou Carlin Cove, established in 2014, is a 14-acre tract with a paved road, boat launches, a pavilion and parking. The site has vacant space and has had plans on paper for several years for its use. A restaurant would be a great benefit not only to the port and the community as well as the town, he said.
“The port wanted to petition the town to annex that property so that sales tax from the restaurant would benefit the town,” Verret told the aldermen. “We’re here to ask for sewer water tap and for police patrols to continue.”
The restaurant would need access to the town’s water and sewer lines and gas lines. The town will use the next month to look into costs for making those connections, as well as seeking permission from the state to bore under La. 330 (Railroad Street) to bring gas lines to the restaurant. Verret said that he had already discovered a water main brought to the site, but sewer connections would have to be made.
Verret said the port district has an agreement with the town and pays $950 a month to provide police patrols. If the town annexes Bayou Carlin Cove, that payment will cease, but until the restaurant gets built, the district would like to continue the payments. Verret also asked the town to contribute to help split the costs for infrastructure improvements at the site.
Verret said there are plans on paper for an RV park and boat storage sites at Bayou Carlin Cove, but the plan is to bring utility service with enough amperage for the restaurant and the RV park and boat storage facility.
The time before the next meeting also allows for the restaurant owners to sign a lease for the site and to determine construction costs, an issue brought up by District 3 Alderman Tipper Esponge.

Alison Miller

Vermilion Parish tourism figures are on the rise

Thu, 05/19/2022 - 1:40pm

By Alison Miller, Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission Executive Director

Each year, the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission (VPTC) compiles tourism figures and compares these numbers to previous years to measure how tourism is doing in the parish. After being down for a couple of years, tourism is beginning to pick up in the parish. Although not yet back to pre-COVID visitation, the Tourist Commission is noticing more people coming into the Center on a daily basis, including a few international visitors.
According to official tourism figures, VPTC had a total of 21,203 inquiries for 2021 which is 28% higher than 2020. This figure represents 1,382 visitors stopping in the Center for information; 289 call-ins; 9,683 website requests and information downloads; 9,849 requests from e-mail and ads placed in regional and national publications. Walk-in visitors included people from all over the United States and a couple of visitors from Germany. In 2021, over 281,400 people visited the tourism website and social media numbers continue to grow each year.
VPTC is solely funded through a two percent occupancy tax on parish accommodations to operate the Tourist Center and market the parish as a tourist destination. The first quarter of 2022 has seen an increase in occupancy tax revenue and the second quarter is expected to follow that trend with large baseball tournaments occurring almost every weekend at AA Comeaux Park. For March, occupancy tax was up by 10.5% due largely to the two tournaments that were held in Abbeville and Erath. The return of our parish festivals, as well as Acadiana festivals, has helped bring tourists into the parish. Another item that could help with future tourism is the renewed interest in downtown Abbeville and the repurposing of the Audrey Hotel. These projects could open more tourism opportunities and bring in much needed revenue to the City and parish.
To cover the majority of the marketing costs, VPTC applies for grants whenever possible. In 2021, the Commission received $20,000 from the Louisiana Office of Tourism (LOT) to help market the parish. In addition to this grant, VPTC received a $11,746 LOT Sunshine Grant and $1,443 from the Lt. Governor’s Co-op Grant to be used on approved state advertising programs. These grants help VPTC promote our parish’s tourism entities to a wider audience through print, digital and social media.
For more information on what to see or do in the area or to request a copy of the 2021 Progress Report, visit www.mostcajun.com or contact VPTC at 898-6600 or info@vermilion.org. The Tourist Commission office is located at 200 N Magdalen Square in downtown Abbeville and is open Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 am-4:30 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am-3:30 pm.

Photo credit: Doug Dugas /
UL Lafayette)
UL Lafayette will award 1,753 degrees during individual Commencement ceremonies.

Vermilion Parish natives among 1,753 to receive degrees during UL Lafayette’s 2022 Spring Commencement

Thu, 05/19/2022 - 10:22am

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is celebrating its Spring 2022 graduates during Commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday.
The University conferred 1,387 bachelor’s degrees, 328 master’s degrees, 36 doctoral degrees and two certificates. Graduates are from 55 Louisiana parishes, 36 states and U.S. territories, and 33 foreign countries.
The Graduate School has broken several records this semester. Its 365 total graduate degrees and certificates are the most in University history. Among that number are the highest number of master’s degrees ever awarded and the second-most doctoral degrees in school history.
The Spring 2022 class is also notable for diversity. It is tied for the largest number of graduates of Hispanic descent (115) and the second-largest number of minority graduates (478).
The class also stands out for academic achievement. Its 28 summa cum laude graduates – those with perfect 4.0 GPAs – set another school record; the University’s 432 honors graduates with GPAs of 3.5 or higher are the second-most ever.
Spring 2022 graduates hold a special distinction, as well. They are members of the first graduating class since the University’s official designation as a Carnegie Research 1 University. Graduates from just 3% of colleges and universities in the United States hold degrees from a top-tier R1 institution.
During the ceremony for the College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, told graduates that “the University believes in your professional achievements and success.”
“As an institution, we have high expectations for our alumni – and the excellence embodied by the graduates of the College of Nursing & Health Sciences certainly has raised that bar throughout the years,” he said.

Vermilion Parish

Baccalaureate Degree

Arts
Zachary Broussard
Grant Christopher Clark
Claire Lorraine Daigle
Brittney C Detraz
Jacob Anthony Gerard
Baron C Rosa
Jude Michael Schexnyder
Business Administration
Hunter M Bertrand
Lexie Elizabeth Broussard
Taylor Choate Broussard
Weston J Cormier
Jesse M Gaspard
John-Tyler E Lege
Taylor M Luquette
Matthew J Mire
Catherine C Simon
Taylor Stelly
Sarah Marie Vice

Education
Reilly D Boling
Natalie C Duhon
Madisen Fontenot
Shauna Marie Hebert
Courtney Duhon Morales
Holly D Necaise
Cailyn E Simon
Bethany L Sistrunk
Engineering
Hunter M Bourque
Devin S Broussard
Kaleb John Connor
Curtis R Crochet
Matthew P Derise
Jada F Hebert
Michael Paul Lacour
John N Langlinais
Cauy A Menard
Thomas James Poche
Ashley Renee Richard
Spence Mickal Suire
Payne M Touchet
Andrew Trahan

Liberal Arts
Morgan Nicole Alleman
Taylor E Baudoin
Shelby Marie Breaux
Noah Jamison Broussard
Lauren Callahan
Ajah Len Cox
Mallory Claire Desormeaux
Shea Duplechain
Sydnee Nicole Gaspard
Ezra Reed Gyles
Madeline M Hammer
Kelli L Maner
Alyssa Marie Pellegrin
Leah Renee Phillips
Taylor A Plaisance
Nursing & Health Sciences
Taylor E Abshire
Alana A Burroughs
Heather F. Cormier
Laigha Nicole DeRouen
Lena Marie Landry
Andrew Joel Middleton
Jaden A Romero

Sciences
Jaida R Abshire
Bailey J Bernard
Chene J Blanchette
Monique O Broussard
Bryce C Lavergne
Alex Michael LeBlanc
Tommy S Nguyen
Haley Q Nguyen
Kyle J Ramke
Claire A Schexnider
Colby R Taylor
Sara A Trahan
Paul John Tran
Kieu K Tran

University College
Elisabeth Grace Duplantis
Trevor Eaton
Devan Michael Georgia
Ben States Olivier
Masters Degree

Business Administration
Kadie Leigh Castro
Jenci Sellers Dronet
Mary Catherine Ortemond Franques
Wyatt Andrew Hardee
Courtney Ari Lyles
Chad Massie
Liberal Arts
Haley Marie Faulk
Reilly Mcewen Goldsmith
Nursing & Health Sciences
Mikki Andrea Royston

Ten North Vermilion High School seniors who were awarded $1,000 scholarships by the Ramsie Kate Baumgardner Memorial Fund pose with members of the Baumgardner/Vincent family during Senior Day awards at NV on Monday.

Ramsie Kate Baumgardner

Family members of Ramsie Baumgardner were present at North Vermilion on Monday morning.

Ramsie Kate Baumgardner Memorial Fund awards scholarships to 10 North Vermilion seniors

Thu, 05/19/2022 - 10:11am

Vincent tells daughter’s classmates to ‘be the light and fear less’

Chris Lanadry

To learn more or to donate to the Ramsie Kate Baumgardner Memorial Fund, or for a link to Louisiana organ donation websites, go to rkbmemorialfund.com.

MAURICE — Ramsie Baumgardner was a force to be reckoned with in life.
Her family is ensuring that she continues to be a force for good, establishing the Ramsie Kate Baumgardner Memorial Fund in the late North Vermilion High School student’s honor. The RKB Memorial Fund distributed $1,000 checks on Monday to each of the 10 NVHS seniors who applied for the first scholarships awarded by the fund in memory of their classmate, who was killed in a two-car accident on La. 167 in January.
North Vermilion held Senior Day awards on Monday morning.
“Our family decided early on that we needed somehow to turn pain to purpose,” said Ali Vincent, Ramsie’s mother.
They decided the best way to do that was establishing a memorial scholarship fund to have education help carry students forward, with one scholarship awarded each year in her honor.
But since this was to be Ramsie’s graduating class, and because so many people had donated so much to the fund, the memorial fund awarded scholarships to all of the seniors who applied this year — Sophie Broussard, Ethan Guidry, Emma Hebert, Estelle Lebourgeois, Lexi Broussard, Blair Saltzman, Mallie Gardiner, Hailey Broussard, Jude Meaux and Kayla Veronie.
Vincent asked the graduating seniors to keep her daughter’s life and legacy in mind whatever paths they choose in life — college, trade school, military service, careers.
“Whichever path you choose, please remember, when standing at the crossroads of right and wrong, think Ramsie, choose right,” she said.
“When deciding between holding onto anger or choosing forgiveness, think Ramsie, choose forgiveness. When deciding to push through or give up, think Ramsie, keep pushing. When deciding to meet and greet or continue to walk on by, think Ramsie, meet and greet.”
She then stressed the way her daughter felt, using her favorite saying, one that was printed on the T-shirts worn by family members at Monday’s senior ceremony — Fear Less.
“When feeling scared and unsure, think Ramsie — fear less,” Vincent said.
The 10 senior scholarship recipients also were given handmade crosses made from flowers from Ramsie’s funeral, donated to the family for the purpose.
While the Baumgardner/Vincent family surprised the seniors who applied for the scholarship with checks this year, the senior class also surprised the family by honoring Ramsie. She was voted Biggest Party Animal (“You’ve gotta love that, right?,” said Ali Vincent) and Best Smile by the senior class, and was voted Miss North Vermilion High School, with dad Brian Baumgardner accepting that honor on behalf of her family.
“You could definitely feel her presence yesterday in that room,” Ali Vincent said. “It’s our cross to bear, but there’s definitely a lot of people who were affected by her death.”
Students can apply for the scholarship at www.rkbmemorialfund.com, which also includes a link where those interested can donate to the fund.
In the future, one scholarship will be awarded annually to a senior who must have attended North Vermilion High School for the previous two years, achieved a 3.0 or better grade point average throughout their junior and senior years, maintained a good disciplinary record, and demonstrated both school and community involvement.
Applicants also must submit an essay of no more than 300 words explaining how they have contributed to their school and community.
This year’s essays touched on subjects including the lighting on Highway 67 to organ donation, a subject near and dear to the family even before the accident that took Ramsie’s life. The family has known people who have needed organ transplants, and Ramsie made that a point of emphasis of her own.
“Ramsie, when she got her driver’s license, checked off all the boxes to be a full organ donor,” said Ali Vincent. “After the accident, when they told us she wasn’t going to make it, we called LOPA (the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency) immediately.”
Because of the extent of damage to her organs, only Ramsie’s eyes were able to be donated, her mom said. But because the issue was an important one to her, there is a link to the LOPA website and the Ramsie Kate Baumgardner hero story (https://www.lopa.org/hero-stories/ramsie-baumgardner) on the RKB Memorial Fund website.
“We look forward to awarding many scholarship awards in years to come,” Vincent said at Monday’s ceremony. “Be the light and fear less.”

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Several from Vermilion Parish receive degrees from McNeese State University

Vermilion Parish School System halfway done hiring for 150 teacher/support personnel positions

‘Click It Or Ticket’ underway in Erath

Iberia Parish Crash Claims Life of Abbeville Man

Sea Grant Agent Mark Shirley Named Alumnus of the Year

Alvin J. Minnick, Jr.

New restaurant planned at Bayou Carlin Cove

Vermilion Parish tourism figures are on the rise

Vermilion Parish natives among 1,753 to receive degrees during UL Lafayette’s 2022 Spring Commencement

Ramsie Kate Baumgardner Memorial Fund awards scholarships to 10 North Vermilion seniors

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