Student of the Year Winners for Natchitoches Parish were chosen on Jan. 19 after a day-long interview process. The selection committee spent time reading and scoring over each student’s portfolio before the interviews. Students are judges based on their academics, overall portfolio presentation, writing sample, and interview performance.
Winners are:
5th Grade: Jasmyn Carpenter- Natchitoches Magnet
8th Grade: Isaac Young- Natchitoches Magnet
12th Grade: Aziza Coutee- Natchitoches Central High School
Fifth Grade Nominees included: Olivia Egans (East Natchitoches), Gavin Montgomery (Fairview Alpha), Lillie Warner (Marthaville), Keely Cade (NSU ELab), Hailey Dulay (Provencal), and Brady Guin (Goldonna).
Eighth Grade Nominees included: Kelsey Cameron (Goldonna), Timberlyn Washington (Lakeview Jr. High), Kaylee Jordan (Marthaville), McKenzie Williams (Natchitoches Jr. High), Chase Sarpy (Natchitoches Parish Technical Career Center), Anna Hobart (NSU Middle Lab), and Harley Welling (Provencal).
Twelfth Grade Nominees included: Jason Blake Smith (Lakeview) and Nh’Riyah Jackson (Natchitoches Parish Technical Career Center).
Aziza is the daughter of Amelia Madonna Coutee. She started her own business in 2019 called AC Photography. She has decided to attend Northwestern State University to become a psychologist and open her own practice one day.
Isaac is involved in computer coding, playing the piano and violin, and participating on his school’s Mathcounts and Robotics teams.
Jasmyn is the daughter of Nicholas and Carlisa Washington. She hopes to become a pediatric nurse practitioner like her mother, who is Jasmyn’s biggest inspiration.
Selection Committee Members are NCHS Assistant Principal Dennis Breland, NPJ Editor Corey Poole, Natchitoches Times Reporter Hannah Richardson, Lakeview Ag Teacher Sarah Mallette, BOM Employee and School Board Member Reba Phelps, BOM Employee Katrice Below, and Retired Natchitoches Parish Teacher Annie Oliphant. School Board Employee Anita Dubois organizes the Student of the Year Competition for Natchitoches Parish every year.
