Students in Pursuit of Excellence
By Falcolm and Yvonne Hull
The Overseer Richard Rayborn, Sr. Scholarship Fund held its third annual Scholarship Award Banquet on June 16 at the Christian Assembly Full Gospel Church where Dr. Richard Rayborn II is the pastor. Eight Ascension Parish seniors were recognized and awarded $1,000 for their pursuit of excellence in academics.
The students honored are Alexis DeShea Anderson, Dutchtown High School graduate accepted to Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond where she aspires to become a neonatal nurse; Kyali Nicole Anderson, East Ascension High School graduate who will attend Xavier University in New Orleans, majoring in Biology and pre-med; Kailyn Marie Cooper, St. Amant High School graduate who plans to attend Baton Rouge Community College to complete her undergraduate prerequisite courses and transfer to Southeastern Louisiana University Nursing School Program; Cameron Terrell Jones, Dutchtown High School graduate who plans to attend River Parish Community College to receive an Associate Degree in Instrumentation; Lauren Elizabeth Michelli, East Ascension High School graduate who will attend Mississippi College, majoring in Biology and pre-med to pursue a career in ophthalmology; Miquel Joseph Miles, Jr., Donaldsonville High School graduate who will attend Southern University, majoring in agriculture science economics; Jessica Leontine Popularas, Dutchtown High School graduate who will attend Louisiana State University, majoring in kinesiology and focusing on human movement science; Kiersten Janae’ Roberts, Dutchtown High School graduate who will attend Xavier University, majoring in history and pre-med.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul was the keynote speaker for the occasion, and focused on the importance of education, making the right choices, and living a life that emphasizes faith and family first. Dr. Richard Rayborn II, pastor of the Christian Assembly Full Gospel Church in Gonzales, expressed his pride in the students’ achievements.
