Three Winn Parish students have begun what they hope would be a six-month trek to Louisiana Student of the Year honors. Their first phase was marked Monday night when the School Board recognized the parish winners for grade 5, 8 and 12.
Winner at the Grade 5 level is Jackson Compton of Winnfield Middle School. Winner for Grade 8 is Sienna Box of Calvin High School. Winner for Grade 12 is Emily Nevils of Winnfield Senior High School.
This is no easy accomplishment, explained instructional supervisor Nancy Crain, district coordinator of this competition. “It’s quite a bit of work for students and their parents to put together a portfolio. Included in the process are written essays and personal interviews. We’ve had three Winn students to make it all the way to state, something a little parish like us should feel fortunate and proud of.”
As part of the presentation, the board heard that the three honorees had first won the school division of their grade categories and a Powerpoint presentation was displayed to show the other school winners. In 5th Grade, Jase Tinsley took honors at CHS while Dakota Marker was winner at DHS. In 8th Grade, Brody Tucker was winner at DHS while Braelynn Golemon took honors at WMS. And for 12th Grade, it was Kyleigh Blundell winning at CHS and Garrett Jones winning at DHS.
Supt. Al Simmons told the gathering that this recognition comes through the Department of Education. The state sets criteria, the parish implements. It’s academic including student grades but it also factors in community service and requires both writing skills and the spoken word through interviews for competitors to advance. It’s a long process as students progress from the school level to district, then zone and regional before arriving at state finals in April.
Following the Board’s congratulations and photos, Mrs. Crain asked the winners and their mothers into her office to discuss some competition details. Chris Nevils, father of the senior winner Emily, took the opportunity to comment to the board.
“We moved up to Winnfield when our older daughter Kate was 1,” he said. “One of the reasons of our decision was the school system you have here. What we’ve seen tonight is proof that this has been the best place for our children and others in Winn. The teachers here are spinning straw into gold.” He added that their older daughter was one of the three who made it to state.