Student of the Year winners for the Natchitoches Parish School District for the 2021-2022 school year were chosen on Jan. 12. They are Peyton Helaire (5th grade-Natchitoches Magnet), Bryan Chen (8th grade-Natchitoches Magnet), and Anna Catherine Coleman (12th grade-Natchitoches Central High School).

Nominees for 5th grade included:
Genesis Conday- East Natchitoches
Connor Franks- Fairview Alpha
Grace Day- Goldonna
Kyleigh Greer- Marthaville
Caleb Bynog- NSU E-Lab
Eli Walker- Provencal

Nominees for 8th grade included:
Matthew Cherry- Goldonna
Traylyn Lofton- Lakeview Jr. High
Blaine Mitchell- Marthaville
She’Kinya Pipkin- Natchitoches Jr. High
Christian Frazier- NSU Middle Lab
Kendall Presson- Provencal

Nominees for 12th grade included:
Zoie Britt- Lakeview High School

Fifth grade winner Peyton Helaire is the daughter of Milton and Sonja Helaire. She has two brothers, Devin and Reese. Peyton is involved at her school, church, and in the community like participating in programs at the Campti Community Development Center.

Eighth grade winner Bryan Chen is the son of Ninja Chen and Lianzhi Feng. He has a brother, Albert Chen, and a sister, Andrea Chen. Bryan is a member of his school’s Mathcounts Club and has participated in several others.

Twelfth grade winner Anna Catherine Coleman is the daughter of Micah and Caron Coleman. She has one sister, Molly and one brother, Jude.  Anna Catherine balances her academics with work life with a job at Natchitoches Family Eye Care, her love for art, and various sports at NCHS.

The Student of the Year Interview Committee included Juanita Fowler, Dennis Breeland, Carmella McCart, Linda Page, Katrice Below, Reba Phelps, Sarah Dyson Mallette, and Corey Poole.

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