Mary Anna Scruggs, a senior at St. Mary’s School in Natchitoches, has been selected Student of the Year by the Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in the 12th grade division. Finalists in the diocesan competition were eligible to compete in the District Competition held Jan. 22; followed by the Regional Competition to be held in February in Baton Rouge.

Mary Anna is the daughter of Sammy and Connie Scruggs. At St. Mary’s, she is the Varsity Cheer Lieutenant, and a member of the Cross Country, Track and Tennis teams. She serves as vice president of BETA, president of the National Honor Society, president of the Leo (Service) Club, and a representative of Student Council.

She is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), the Fellowship of Christian Athletes/Pro-Life, and a member of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception as well as Holy Cross Life Teen.

A service project that she spearheads every Tuesday at her school, is called Donuts for St. Jude’s. A few years ago, fellow friend and SMS student Jeremy Friedel raised money for the patients at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital through the sale of donuts to the students. After he graduated, she wanted to continue the tradition. Last year she donated $800 to St. Jude’s Hospital in the name of St. Mary’s Donuts for St. Jude’s.

Winners of the St. Mary’s Student of the Year competition, who also competed in the diocesan competition, included Scruggs, Colton Cross (8th grade), and Molly Smith (5th grade). The non-public school competition included Student of the Year winners in the 5th, 8th, and 12th grades from several Catholic, Christian, and private schools in Central Louisiana.

Pictured: Mary Anna Scruggs, a senior at St. Mary’s School in Natchitoches, has been selected Student of the Year by the Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in the 12th grade division. She is the daughter of Sammy and Connie Scruggs.