Mr. and Miss SMS is a longstanding tradition and honorary award granted to those students who embody the deepest values of St. Mary’s Catholic School.  Candidates should be Catholics of exemplary character who live the faith and devote themselves to the service of others.  The symbolic representation of this devotion is displayed every year as Mr. and Miss SMS crown the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary during May Crowning.

Mason Cecil McCart is the son of Mr. Jonathan Paul McCart and Mrs. Mary Carmella McCart. He has attended St. Mary’s for fifteen years and was the recipient of the Student of the Year award for this year.  He has served as both the Louisiana and National Sr. Beta President, the District VII President for student council, as well as being the founder and president of Cooking for a Cause, which has donated nearly $20,000 to various organizations in the Natchitoches community. Mason is also a six year member of the St. Mary’s varsity tennis team where he serves as captain and is a two time state tournament qualifier. He is a three year member of the varsity cross country team, a two year member of the varsity track team, and a two year member of the cheer team where he served as mascot. Mason is also a four year member of FBLA where he is a 3x state champion in Current Events, Leo Club, FFA, and a two year member of the Mayor’s Youth Council. He is also a recipient of the 2022 LPB Louisiana Young Hero Award, the 2019 and 2021 Bishop Martin Award, and the 2022 Tiger Integrity Award. Mason has also spoken at various events including the Natchitoches Mental Health Day conference, the Natchitoches March for Life, and various Beta conventions. Mason also led St. Mary’s first District VII student council convention with over 300 attendees from 20 schools present. Along with being the second consecutive national and Louisiana Beta president to hail from St. Mary’s, he is also a 2021 National Beta Campaign Skit winner, and a 2022 Louisiana Beta Campaign Skit runner-up.  Mason participates as a lector and altar server at school Masses and is a member of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church. In the fall, Mason plans to attend the University of Notre Dame and pursue a double major in Marketing and Film. 

Anna Marie Peluso is the daughter of Tony and Jessica Peluso and the sister of Madelyn and Isabella Peluso. She has attended St. Mary’s Catholic School for fourteen years and has taken both dual enrollment and honors classes in high school. Anna has participated in both academic and athletic extracurricular activities as well. She has been a member of Beta Club and National Honor Society for three years and Student Council for four years. She has experienced many leadership positions in Student Council, serving as class treasurer for three years and Executive Board President her senior year. She attended the LASC conference for three years while being in Student Council. Anna has been a varsity cheerleader for four years and served as captain her senior year. She was selected as an All American cheerleader for two years at UCA summer camp and a Pin-it-Forward Recipient one year. She has also been a member of the varsity tennis team for four years and the cross country team for three years. Anna qualified for state each year that she competed with cross country and received many achievements at different races. She has also been in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes/Pro Life club for four years and participates as a lector in student-led masses. Anna Peluso plans to attend Louisiana State University and major in Speech Language Pathology.