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MAURICE — Family is important to 11-year-old Kinley Jo Romero.
When Romero, a fifth-grader at Cecil Picard Elementary, earns a big accomplishment, she enjoys celebrating with her family.
The Romeros had a huge reason to celebrate as the Vermilion Parish School System recently named Romero its Elementary School Student of the Year.
“This recognition has been such an awesome experience for me that I will never forget,” Romero said. “I am honored to be named Cecil Picard Elementary’s 2024-2025 Student of the Year and Vermilion Parish Elementary Student of the Year. 
“I am thankful and blessed for my family, friends, teachers, and everyone who has supported me throughout this incredible journey.”
Romero’s journey has been a busy one. She is involved in numerous activities at school. That list includes the Jr. Beta Club, for which she serves as president, the 4-H Club and Student Council.
“I am very involved in many activities and clubs in my school and community,” Romero said.
Outside of school, Romero enjoys dancing and playing basketball. 
“Dancing is my greatest passion with basketball right after,” Romero said. “I have been in dancing at DWL Dance Company here in Maurice since I was three years old, where I participate in tap, jazz, technique, hip hop, and competition dance. I have been playing basketball since the age of 5. Playing basketball is so fun and I have learned a lot of good things such as good sportsmanship, that hard work always pays off, and never to quit what you start.”
Romero said she felt the experiences she gained from activities both in and out of school helped her in the competition for the top elementary student.
“I feel that my confidence, drive, and involvement helped me separate myself,” Romero said. “My confidence really helps me have good conversations with the judges, especially during the interview process. My drive helps me to always give my best in everything that I do. I love to start conversations and interact with people.”
She’s now looking forward to having those conversations and interactions as she represents Cecil Picard and Vermilion Parish at the next level of the competition.
“I am beyond proud, humbled, and filled with excitement to be able to represent my school, Cecil Picard Elementary, as the 2024-2025 Vermilion Parish Elementary Student of the Year!” Romero exclaimed.
As always, Romero is most excited to represent her parents, Kayla and Jordan, and sister, Lexi.
“My family is a big part of my life and is very important to me,” Romero said. “I love to spend time with them and celebrate things like this huge accomplishment with them.”

KAPLAN — Coeyn Wise doesn’t give himself too much downtime in a good way.
That’s one of the things about Wise, a senior at Kaplan High, that helped propel him to Vermilion Parish High School Student of the Year. The Vermilion Parish School System made the announcement late last week.
“It is an absolute honor,” Wise said. “It was amazing to be KHS Student of the Year, but going to the next level and competing with the caliber of students as I did was just crazy. The idea that the Student of the Year Committee has put their faith and the full backing of Vermilion Parish into me is a feeling I can’t explain. 
“I hope to represent my parish and my community as well as possible.”
Wise, who plans to enlist in the Navy after graduation, already does that through all his endeavors, both inside and outside school. He attended Louisiana Boys State, where peers elected him governor. Wise has worked closely with Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White to create a Youth Advisory Committee. That is all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and his envelopment BETA, FFA, and Student Council. 
“Plus, I attend all the school board meetings (excluding the most recent one, which landed on my 18th birthday),” Wise said. “I really don’t stop, and I think that is what pushed me over the edge for this honor.”
While he does work with groups throughout the parish, Wise couldn’t be prouder to represent his hometown.
“I will always bleed Black and Gold,” Wise said. “Kaplan is the strongest community, and I am so proud to be a part of it. The community has always been there for my family and me in our times of need, and I am so honored to be able to give back to my school and community by representing them. Everything goes back to my community, and I will never be able to truly express the gratitude, appreciation, and love I have for Kaplan and Kaplan High. Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.”
Wise said his win reflects, in many ways, the great things happening at Kaplan High.
“I love our parish, and that includes every school in the parish,” Wise said. “However, I feel like Kaplan is overlooked very frequently. (KHS Principal) Coach Shay (Herpin) once had the motto of ‘Just Kaplan’ because that’s what everyone thought about us, but in my opinion, since he has become the captain of our ship, he has steered us clear of tidal waves and whirlpools and helped produce some of the hardest working students, most passionate teachers, strongest athletes, as well as two parish students of the year and a Governor of the American Legions Louisiana Boys State. 
“Kaplan is succeeding, and we have been succeeding for a while; I am glad that any achievement I make brings back some recognition to the school because without the strong support and community, we have at KHS, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve my full potential.”
Wise will take this honor and move on to the next level of the Student of the Year competition.
“The next step is state,” Wise said, “and that is a process I’m not too familiar with, but I will go into it with the same vigor and mindset that I went into this entire thing. I want to represent and give back to my community. I will always be myself and promote my hard work and dedication values. I hope my resume, achievements, accomplishments, and personality represent the fine stock that Vermilion Parish has to offer the state as their nominee for Student of the Year.”

December 18, 1932 — November 16, 2024

MEAUX — A Funeral Service officiated by Deacon Tom Summers was held at 3 p.m., Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan honoring the life of Carroll Faulk, 91, who passed away on November 16, 2024, at his home in Meaux, Louisiana.
Burial followed at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Carrol was born on December 18, 1932, in Abbeville. He graduated from Maurice High School in 1952 and enlisted in the United States Army from 1953 until 1955. Corporal Paul C. Faulk was stationed in Germany and a veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Faulk was also a retired car salesman.
He is survived by his spouse, Joycelyn Meaux Faulk; his four children Michelle F. Broussard (Kim), Paul C. Faulk II (Erin), Valerie F. Faulk (Jude) and Jason K. Mire (Laura); his grandchildren, Alexis B. Dailey (Scott), Amanda B. Trahan (Eric), Ashley F. Burks (Ian), Joey Faulk (Brooke), Hailey F. Fontenot (Ian), Desiree F. Romero (Nathan), Christopher Faulk (Anna Beth), Alicia F Nicklas (Jeff), Kate Faulk, Emily Faulk, Joby Mire, Zain Mire and Mia Chamberlain; his great grandchildren, Amelia, Samuel, Cullen and Eloise Dailey, Keller, Reed, Tate and Shea Trahan, Everette, Knox and Evelyn Burks, Karlee and Rhett Romero, Evie and Liza Faulk, Camille, Grace and Olivia Nicklas.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Raoul Faulk and the former Lena Hebert; his sister and brother-in-law, Daniel and Lenora Palombo; his nephew, Guy Palombo and his former wife Dibby Broussard.
Pallbearers were his grandsons, Scott Dailey, Eric Trahan, Ian Burks, Ian Fontenot, Joey Faulk, Nathan Romero, Christopher Faulk and Jeff Nicklas.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to "Carroll's Girls" from Heart of Hospice who faithfully cared for him daily.
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