Students with the Walker High School Wildcats Robotics program recently earned multiple awards at the 13th annual Northern Gulf Coast Regional MATE ROV competition hosted in Dauphin Island, Alabama. The 2026 Marine Advanced Technology Education competition was hosted by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Discovery Hall Program and presented competition scenarios where students had to use wind turbines to power offshore oil rigs, map the seabed and document discoveries, deploy instrumentation and monitor the health of cold-water habitats, and operate equipment under the ice.
Eighteen teams from four states competed with custom-built remotely operated vehicles The competition challenged students to apply science, technology engineering and mathematics skills to solve real-world problems through mission-based underwater robotics tasks. “I’m proud of the way our stu-
dents worked together and showed resilience as they tackled each of the competition challenges,” said WHS Wildcats robotics coach Jennifer Duvieilh, who also teaches robotics, computer science and cyber society at the campus.
Those recognized at the competition include: n CyDivers team earned the “Tethered Together Award” for exceptional teamwork, with judges noting their positive attitude, ca-
maraderie, and ability to stay motivated under pressure. Team members include Chase Martell, Jayden Paetz, Logan Vulgamore and Olivia Vulgamore. n Frigid Expeditionaires team received the “Buoyancy Award” for their innovative approach to solving buoyancy challenges during competition Team members include Ian Bayliss, Kira Germany,
Maurepas baseball team one game away from semifinals
Battling through adversity is a challenge for any baseball team whether it’s injuries, bad luck or in the case for all south Louisiana teams in recent weeks, the weather It has certainly been no different for the Maurepas High squad although, by appearances, they handled it as well as they could have.
Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
The Wolves finished up a 22-9 regular season on April 13, a campaign that earned them the No. 1 seed in the Class C playoffs. That top seeding included a firstround bye, and by the time their regional round game against No. 17 Evans was rescheduled twice due to weather the Wolves had gone 19 days between games.
Not to worry Maurepas still hasn’t gotten much game time in since the end of the regular season, but only because it made quick work of Evans. The Wolves pounded out 16 hits, and defeated the Eagles 16-1 in a game shortened to three innings by run rule.
There were plenty of superlatives. Pitcher Kade Penalber struck out six and allowed no hits in his three innings of work. At the plate, Alex Aime and Noah Dugas led a Wolves attack that featured seven players with multiple hits. Aime went 2-for-2 with a triple while Dugas
was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Maurepas’ stellar play has it one win away from a return trip to the state tournament at McMurry Park in Sulphur Last year, the Wolves were seeded third and reached the Class C semifinals for the fourth time since 2010 before falling 15-10 to No. 2 Harrisonburg. Standing between Maurepas and another semifinal berth is quarterfinal opponent Northside Christian (8-12).
Wolves coach Boog Dugas said his team is taking nothing for granted.
“All the teams left still have a shot, so we’re not taking anybody for granted,” Dugas said. “It’s about one game at a time. If you don’t show up and play, and you get beat, well, you had your chance and blew it. We’re going to play our baseball that got us to this point. We’re going to go after it and try to beat everybody as best we can.”
A perfect illustration of the coach’s point occurred in the last week of the regular season.
Maurepas beat Family Christian, a team that is the No. 2 seed in Class C 18-0. Two days later, the teams played again and the Flames won 11-2. Anything is possible in a one-game series. For the sake of continuity, here’s hoping the weather will cooperate as the playoffs finish up next week.
Crossing guard killed in crash: ‘One of a kind’
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD
Staff writer
A beloved crossing guard known for her decades of service and always smiling and waving at students in the traffic lines for Denham Springs elementary schools was killed Thursday Katy Wells, a crossing guard for Seventh Ward Elementary and Gray’s Creek Elementary
schools in Denham Springs, died at 74 while working as a crossing guard at Gray’s Creek on Thursday afternoon during school dismissal when she was struck by an allegedly impaired driver Wells worked for the Livingston Parish Public School System and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office in various capacities over the past 40 years, said Jody Purvis Livingston Parish schools
superintendent. “She was a true servant to her community, and she will be deeply missed,” he said Thursday in a statement.
Wells wore many hats, from working as a school resource officer to managing a computer lab at Seventh Ward Elementary, according to former students. She also worked for years at the now-closed C.B. Pennington Jr
YMCA branch in Baton Rouge at the front desk and as a building supervisor, according to her social media posts. Wells was preceded in death by her husband, Glen, who was also a crossing guard at Southside Junior High and Juban Park Junior High schools.
Seventh Ward Elementary
See GUARD, page 2G
Katy Wells winning Seventh Ward Elementary School’s paraprofessional of the year in 2022
Loan Fund program, will allow the district to more accurately and more efficiently manage water usage
Ward 2 Water District to install automatic meter reading system
Community news report
New automatic meter reading water meters are coming to part of Livingston Parish thanks to the Louisiana Department of Health’s Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund’s $4 million loan to the Livingston Parish Ward 2 Water District.
Livingston Parish’s Ward 2 Water District is the state’s largest rural water district with more than 26,000 water customers, a news release said.
The fund’s loan money will pay for the district’s installation of new automatic meter reading water meters.
“The new automatic meters will replace the need to hire thirdparty readers who were often less reliable and less accurate in their reporting. The new system can be remotely monitored by technicians for possible damage or tampering, and usage is recorded and electronically transmitted for more accurate billing,” said Project Engineer Toby Fruge of Owen and White.
Fruge said the new system will also alert customers to any possible leaks so they can be fixed by a local plumber before incurring high water costs.
“These new monitors will allow us to more accurately and more efficiently manage our water usage. Not only does the new system allow us to concentrate more manpower on quality management, but
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n CA No. 5 To change the mandatory retirement age of judges from 70 to 75 years of age
n Livingston Fire Protection
Dist. No. 1 — 10 mills renewal
Class of ‘76 plans 50th reunion
If you’re an alum of the Denham Springs Class of 1976 my class — your help is needed to organize the upcoming reunion
The event is planned for June 13 at Forrest Grove in Denham Springs.
To volunteer or share your information with the organizers, email daleh76DS@gmail.com.
Livingston Parish Public Schools is accepting online registrations for incoming kindergarten students for the 2026-27 school year
A child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30 to register for kindergarten.
Online registration is available at www.lpsb.org/parent_resources/registration_info/register_for_ kindergarten_2026-2027.
ROBOTICS
Continued from page 1G
Jimmy Knight, Tyler Ordoyne and Carter Adamo.
n Scallywags Team was recognized with the “People’s Choice Award” for Best Scout Poster showcasing excellence in communication and presentation. Team members include Cayden Cain, Reid Almeida, Caden McInnis, Oliver Koelbell and Lance McDowell.
n All the Walker students were recognized by event organizers for their leadership and character Those remaining WHS students who participated in the competition include Christian Bruce, Shawn O’Neill, TyQuincy Sellers, Braden Slocum, Donald Busby, Trelle Sellers, Eva Bencaz and Kayla Ousley-Kirby.
“I’m proud that our teams stayed positive, worked together, and handled challenges with resilience. We showed that mistakes are part of the engineering design process, and how you respond to them is what matters most,” WHS
student Logan Vulgamore said.
The students were also recognized by the competition coordinator for volunteering to help with pool cleanup after the competition, demonstrating their commitment to teamwork, respect and taking ownership both in and out of competition.
“These awards and recognitions reflect the mindset and collaborative spirit of the Wildcat Robotics students,” said Jessica Wagner a program mentor with the LSU College of Engineering.
“Not only did they engineer effective ROVs but they also demonstrated perseverance, creativity and strong communication. The skills these students are building extend far beyond annual competitions,” Wagner said.
The Marine Advanced Technology Education network sponsors 40 regional competitions held across the United States and worldwide each year, and the competitions include multiple class levels increasing in complexity and technical challenge.
it also alerts us to potential problem areas much quicker than in the past,” said Cookie Killcrease, Ward 2 Water Office Manager
The funding for the improvements is provided through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law The annual allotment for Louisiana’s DWRLF General Supplemental Fund is $28,7444,00, and those funds are dispersed into rural water systems throughout the state.
The funds have a principal forgiveness of 49 percent with the remaining 51 percent eligible for low interest. For the Ward 2 Water District, that means $1,960,000 of the loan is forgiven while the remaining $2,040,000 will be paid back at the low interest rate of 2.45 percent.
“This BIL General Supplemental Loan is a cost-effective way for our state’s rural water districts to address make significant improvements in the quality of their service,” said LDH’s Office of Public Health Deputy Chief Engineer of Infrastructure and Finance Scott Templet.
“We congratulate the Ward Two Water District’s leadership on taking advantage of this funding program to improve the quality of drinking water for their customers,” Templet added.
Congress established the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs in 1996 as part of amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Currently enrolled Pre-K students are automatically rolled over and do not need to register More information about the registration process, visit www lpsb.org/parent_resources/registration_info.
Livingston Parish Business, Community Expo
The Livingston Parish Business and Community Expo is from 4 to 7 p.m May 12 at the Suma Hall Community Center
The Livingston Parish Business & Community EXPO brings together local businesses, community organizations, hiring employers and restaurants for one high-energy event It’s a chance to connect, discover, and support the people and organizations that keep Livingston Parish moving.
The event will include local businesses showcasing products and services, community and civic organizations sharing their impact and employers connecting with potential hires. For information, call (225) 3057183.
Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
GUARD
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Principal Laura Dunlap worked with Wells for 16 years and said “Mrs. Katy” has been a “school mom and grandma” to generations.
“She had a lot of rules and a wonderful witty sense of humor,” Dunlap said about Wells’ work style. “She wanted those kids protected; those were her babies.”
Along with helping traffic, Wells was over the prayer board at the school and would also create the monthly bulletin boards. She would volunteer at events and has even come in for more time recently to help out the school during testing season, the principal said.
The principal described how Wells would even give away her own money originally for her own bills, to others in need around her
“She gave everything she had for others,” she said.
Hundreds of Denham Springs residents grew up with Wells
helping them get to school, and then decades later would see Wells helping their own young children make it to school.
In online posts, multiple residents described the crossing guard as someone who always seemed positive as she was always smiling and waving at the students and parents at the schools.
Cherie Burks, of Denham Springs, has known Wells since she was a young girl in school, and then would later see her daily while dropping off and picking up her daughter, Peyton, a Seventh Ward first-grade student.
“My 7-year-old daughter absolutely loved her She was excited to get into the car in the afternoons and roll her window down to wave bye to Mrs. Katy,” Burks said. “Every year at Christmas when purchasing teacher gifts, she wouldn’t let me forget to get Mrs. Katy a gift too.”
Burks described Wells as someone with “a heart of gold” and said she was always smiling and waving in the carpool line.
“Mrs. Katy was one of a kind,”
she said.
Kaydence Elliot, of Denham Springs, would see Wells every weekday while dropping her daughter off at daycare near Seventh Ward.
“It didn’t matter if it was the hottest, sunniest day of the year, or the rainiest and coldest, she was out there,” she said.
Elliot remembers Wells as someone who you could tell truly cared about her job and protecting the children.
“I know it could be frustrating waiting in traffic, especially if you are already running late for the day, but the moment you passed and seen her smile, it didn’t even matter anymore,” Elliot said. Several flowers and balloons were seen outside Seventh Ward Elementary Friday morning by the speed limit sign in honor of Wells, according to the sheriff’s office.
Darren Goudeau, 64 of Walker, was arrested Thursday in connection with the fatality for counts of vehicular homicide and DWI- second offense, the sheriff’s office said. The investigation is ongoing.
Fire chief suspended for 2 weeks without pay for allegedly saying a racial slur
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
A Livingston Parish fire chief was suspended for two weeks without pay after being accused of saying a racial slur during a recent meeting.
The Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 5 Board met Thursday and unanimously approved that Fire Chief Joe Koczrowski be suspended for the next two weeks without pay according to board President Susan Mack.
The move comes after WAFB-TV reported about an audio recording allegedly capturing Koczrowski using the N-word during a meeting reportedly where new developments and rising rent costs in Denham Springs were being discussed.
In a statement, Mack said the board reviewed the matter at two prior meetings.
“The board takes issues of professionalism, respect and leadership seriously Language that is discriminatory or offensive does not
reflect the values or standards of this district,” Mack wrote. “While personnel matters limit what can be shared publicly, the board believes the action taken reflects accountability and the seriousness of the issue.” Deputy Fire Chief Chad Robinson will be acting fire chief during the suspension, Mack confirmed. Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 5 covers 27 square miles and has four stations, all in Denham Springs, according to its website.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Ward 2 water technician Jody Kennedy installs a new automatic meter reading water meter on a customer’s water line connection. The new AMRs, which are being funded with a $4 million loan from the Drinking Water Revolving
The CyDivers won the Tethered Together Award at the 13th Annual Northern Gulf Coast Regional MATE ROV competition. With the award, from left, are LSU program mentor Jessica Wagner, Logan Vulgamore, Olivia Vulgamore, Jayden Paetz, Chase Martell and WHS robotics coach Jennifer Duvieilh.
The Scallywags receive the People’s Choice Award at the 13th annual Northern Gulf Coast Regional MATE ROV competition. The ream includes, from left, Cayden Cain, Oliver Koelbel, Caden McInnis, Reid Almeida, Lance McDowell, WHS robotics coach Jennifer Duvieilh, and LSU program mentor Jessica Wagner
PROVIDED PHOTOS
The Frigid Expeditionaires received the ‘Buoyancy Award’ at the 13th annual Northern Gulf Coast Regional MATE ROV competition. From Walker High, from left, are Carter Adamo, Kira Germany, Tyler Ordoyne, Ian Bayliss, Jimmy Knight, LSU Program Mentor Jessica Wagner, and WHS robotics coach Jennifer Duvieilh.
SLU alumna, astronaut to speak at commencement
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University alumna and astronaut Hayley Arceneaux will address graduating students at two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16.
Southeastern will confer approximately 1,200 degrees between the two ceremonies at 10 a.m. College of Business; College of Nursing and Health Sciences — and 3 p.m. — Colleges of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Education; and Science and Technology
“We strive to expose our new graduates to exemplary role models through our commencement speakers,” said Southeastern President William S. Wainwright. “Hayley’s inspirational words of wisdom will be invaluable to the Class of 2026.”
A pediatric cancer diagnosis at age 10 did not put dreams on hold for Arceneaux. Her experience not only cured her but also reshaped her career aspirations. Now a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she is giving back to the place that saved her life as a child.
In a journey that has come full circle, she served as an ambassador for the hospi-
SLU to host memorial for fallen peace officers
Community news report
The Southeastern Louisiana University Police Department, in partnership with the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, will host its annual Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony at 8 a.m May 15.
The event will take place at the War Memorial Student Union Park on Southeastern’s campus and is free and open to the public. Held in observance of National Police Week the ceremony serves as a time of remembrance and reflection, honoring law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, a news release said. This year, recognitions will be given to deceased officers from Louisiana State Police Troop L, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and Ponchatoula Police Department.
The event will include a formal program featuring remarks, tributes and a moment of silence to honor the lives and service of the officers being recognized Family members of the deceased law enforcement personnel, university officials and members of the community are invited to attend For more information, contact the Southeastern Police Department at (985) 549-2222 or email police@southeastern.edu.
tal on Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission to orbit Earth. In addition to serving as the medical officer on Inspiration4, Arceneaux made history in other ways, such as becoming the first person with a prosthesis, the first pediatric cancer survivor, and the youngest American orbital astronaut. Arceneaux was 10 years old and preparing to earn her black belt in taekwondo when one of her knees began to ache. A lump above her knee was diagnosed as osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer
Her curative treatment included a year of chemotherapy and limb-sparing surgery, which saved her leg. Arceneaux now works at St. Jude caring for pediatric leukemia and lymphoma patients, fulfilling her longheld dream of returning to the hospital as a health care provider
When approached about the opportunity to go to space, Arceneaux reacted first with disbelief, then with enthusiasm. Family members, including a brother and sister-in-law who are both aerospace engineers, strongly supported her decision.
Training for space consisted of six months of intensive preparation, includ-
PROVIDED PHOTO
address
neaux and her fellow In-
ing academic coursework, long hours in the spacecraft simulator, centrifuge training, hypoxia exposure, zerogravity flights, and water survival training. The crew also climbed Mount Rainier together On Sept 15, 2021, Arce-
spiration4 crew members launched aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. They orbited Earth for three days before safely returning, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean. While in orbit, the crew participated
in multiple biomedical research studies.
One of the highlights of Arceneaux’s time in space was a video call with former and current patients at St Jude. “I made sure this call would happen so I could
show patients what their future could look like — whether they want to be astronauts or pursue whatever big dream they imagine,” she said.
The mission raised more than $250 million for St. Jude. Inspiration4 continues to make an impact for the hospital and beyond, and the crew’s journey is featured in the Netflix docuseries Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space. Post-space, Arceneaux continues her work as a physician assistant and embraces the new perspective that spaceflight has given her She has a passion for exploring Earth and has visited all seven continents. Inspired to share her journey, she published her memoir “Wild Ride: A Memoir of IV Drips and Rocket Ships,” as well as the young readers edition, “Wild Ride: My Journey from Cancer Kid to Astronaut.”
Most recently, she published the children’s picture book “Astronaut Hayley’s Brave Adventure.” One of her greatest joys is sharing her story of hope and resilience through speaking. For more information on Southeastern’s Commencement ceremonies, visit southeastern.edu/commencement.
Library reading program offers summer adventures
Livingnston Parish Library branches are busy
Summer
Geaux event in June 2025.
nuptials@theadvocate.com
Community news report
This summer, embark on an adventure filled with prehistoric creatures, thrilling tales, and the awe of discovery during the Livingston Parish Library’s annual Summer Reading Program, set for May 18 to Aug. 2. This initiative invites readers of all ages to immerse themselves in the joy of reading throughout the summer months. Participants can select titles that pique their interest or venture into new genres and authors. As they dive into their literary adventures, readers can earn exciting prizes for reaching their reading goals and attending various library events.
Signing up is quick and easy — whether you prefer to register online or at your nearest LPL branch, it takes less than five minutes.
This year’s theme, Unearth A Story, celebrates the discoveries waiting for you at your local library
How it works
Registration opens May 18 through Beanstack, an online platform where patrons can log the books they’ve read and library events they’ve attended.
Summer Reading Program participants are categorized based on their ages, and each age group has different requirements to complete their reading challenges.
n Read-To-Me (Ages 0-5)
n Youth (Ages 6-12)
n Teen (Ages 13-18)
n Adult (Ages 18+)
Once participants complete their challenge, they can visit their local branch to claim their prize. However, they can keep reading to earn more entries in the library’s end-of-summer grand prize drawings.
Kick off the summer at the library
Make plans to visit a local library branch for Summer Reading Program Kick Off Day, which is May 26 at all branches.
The day will include crafts, and prizes for all ages.
Sign up for the Summer Reading Program challenge on Kickoff Day or swing by if you’re already registered — to snag an exclusive one-day-only prize. Then let your imagination run wild as you transform a dinosaur cutout into a full-on party animal. Young patrons will get a dino-themed stick booklet.
For the latest Summer Reading Program information, visit a library, or www.mylpl.info/events/summer-
Southeastern Louisiana University alumna and astronaut Hayley Arceneaux will
graduating students at two commencement ceremonies on May 16.
Application period opening for preservation grants
Community news report
Lt Gov. Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office announced the opening of the application period for the 2026-2027 Historic Preservation Fund Grant
“Historic preservation is about more than protecting our past — it’s about strengthening our future and driving tourism and economic growth. These grants provide communities with the resources they need to preserve their unique history and tell their stories,” Nungesser said Funds are awarded to the state by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, to support surveys of historic resources, preservation training and education, nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, and grants to certified local governments for their preservation priorities. The new Louisiana Statewide Plan 2026-2030
Together for Louisiana includes elements and goals to promote historic preservation and archaeology to the public and private sectors All proposals relating to ongoing state and federally mandated programs and initiatives outlined in the comprehensive plan will be considered; however, the current priority will focus on projects that expand public access to digital preservation information.
Examples of related projects include:
n Digitization of records, documents and photographs related to physical resources
n Development of website content, story maps or online tours that highlight historic resources n Development of historic district guidelines and updates in digital format for easy access
Grant awards usually range from $3,000 to $80,000. The grant period of performance is from Oct 1
to Sept. 15.
Historic Preservation Fund grants require matching funds on a 60% grant to 40% match basis. Awarded funds are paid as reimbursements after being expended and upon presentation of required documentation by grantees.
Applications will be available through the Division of Historic Preservation website beginning at 10 a.m., May 1, through 10 p.m., May 31.
For application information, visit https://www.crt. state.la.us/cultural-development/historic-preservation/ grants/national-park-service-historic-preservationfund-grants/index.
Grant applications will be reviewed during June with grant recipients notified of awards during late August 2026. Funding is contingent upon the LA SHPO annual appropriation from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund and State General Fund appropriations.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Attending the Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community convetion from Tangipahoa were, first row from left, Jean Hebert, Sue Nelson and Betty Bankston; and second row, Gwen Domiano, Gloria Messenger, Julie Desselles and Susan Melancon.
Tangipahoa residents attend LVFC convention
Community news report
Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community organization held its 93rd annual convention April 13-14 in Jennings. Chairing the event planning was the Area Four Director Charlotte Duplechain, from Jefferson Davis Parish, and her committee’s chosen theme for the occasion was “Soar with LVFC.”
Tangipahoa Volunteers for Family and Community members who attended the event were TVFC President Gloria Messenger, TVFC Parliamentarian and Membership Chair Sue Nelson, TVFC Scholarship and Environmental Chair Jean Hebert, TVFC Family Life Chair Gwen Domiano, TVFC International Chair Susan Melancon, and TVFC
members Betty Bankston and Julie Desselles. The attendees were treated to a “Fun Night” event on the night which included a meal and games President Ann Reeves presided over the convention agenda April 14. The speakers for the occasion were the Louisiana Director of Rural Development and former Louisiana State Rep. Troy Romero, and Jefferson Davis District Attorney Lauren Heinen. For this year’s LVFC’s Community Project, LVFC along with each individual parish group awarded a joint monetary donation to the Communities Against Domestic Abuse program, the only such organization operating out of Jefferson Davis Parish. CADA Director Libby Fontenot ac-
cepted the donation on the organization’s behalf.
During the event, TVFC longtime member Sue Nelson received the Heart of LVFC award. TVFC also received two LVFC grants, one for their Raise-A-Reader Program and one for a Community Service Project for First Responders.
Tangipahoa Volunteers for Family and Community is an all-volunteer arm of LSU Agriculture Extension Service. It includes two clubs: Wednesday Volunteers for Family and Community and Sunshine Ladies. Anyone wanting more information about TVFC local groups can email TVFC President Gloria Messenger at ggmessenger1@ gmail.com or Membership Chair Sue Nelson at suenelson41@yahoo.com.
Amite Arts Council to host two summer camps
Community news report
Registration is underway for two summer art camps by the Amite Arts Council at the Amite Community Center The Summer Drama camp will be June 8-12. It will be taught by Kayln Vallot Haughn, a seasoned theater educator, and professional performer with a passion for helping young performers grow in confidence and creativity, the perfect place for kids to build confidence, spark creativity, make new friends and have a blast through acting games, improvisation, storytelling and performance activities The Visual Art camp will be June 15-19. The teacher will be professional book illustrator Marita Gentry The camp will dive into a world of color, where imagination will lead the way It will be a week of playful discovery for young artists, exploring shapes, colors and lines while learning the elements of art There is limited enrollment for both camps. Registration is $10 and began May 1. Each camp will be held daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register, visit Amite City Hall, 212 E. Oak St. The phone number for Amite City Hall is (985) 7488761. You cannot register with a phone call.
Student receives
‘Yes I Can’ award
Community news report
Jared Peters, a former student at Livingston Virtual Grades 6-12 who is homebased at Live Oak High School, is one of 12 students across the country to receive the 2026 National “Yes I Can” Award for SelfAdvocacy from the Council for Exceptional Children.
The award was presented on March 13 at the National Council for Exceptional Children Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. The CEC paid the travel costs for Peters and his family to visit Salt Lake City to receive the national award.
The “Yes I Can” awards celebrate and honor the achievements of children and youth with exceptionalities while increasing public awareness of the abilities and aspirations of students with disabilities.
Peters is in 10th grade and is attending classes in person at Live Oak High School.
“Jared has not only overcome personal challenges, but he has also become a voice
for himself and others,” said Lorna Ott, director of Livingston Virtual. “From an early age, he has been passionate about learning, including reading by age 2 and demonstrating remarkable memory and analytical skills. Along his academic journey, he navigated challenges related to diagnosed differences that affected sensory and social communication expectations.
“Through determination and growth, Jared developed strong self-regulation, emotional awareness, and coping skills that laid the foundation for his success,” Ott said. Jared is thriving academically, socially and emotionally, Ott said.
“He is fully engaged in the classroom, builds meaningful friendships, and interacts with educators and peers with responsibility and respect,” Ott said. “Known for his strong interpersonal communication, Jared confidently advocates for his needs when appropriate, allowing him to remain focused on learning while contributing positively to his school community.”
Southeastern students dominate in Devdays Nexus Louisiana competition
Community news report
Three teams of students from Southeastern Louisiana University had success in the recent DevDays Nexus Louisiana competition, held in partnership with the Water Institute. Nexus Louisiana creates technological challenges and holds competitions to help solve those problems, and to do so in a commercializable way This year’s competition theme was using computer science to assist with environmental monitoring.
Out of a competitive field, Southeastern teams took home both first and second place, with a third team reaching the finals. The students developed sophisticated AI solutions to solve real-world environmental challenges facing the Water Institute and the Louisiana coast, a news release said.
“I am incredibly proud of our students’ performance at the DevDays Nexus Louisiana competition. Seeing our teams take both first and second place and having a third reach the finals is testament to the high-level technical talent we are cultivating at Southeastern,” said Computer Science professor Ghassan Alkadi. “These students didn’t just write code; they built sophisticated AI systems with 97% accuracy that solve massive data challenges for the Water Institute. Their work in automating months of manual research into mere seconds demonstrates how our Computer Science department is leading the way in protecting Louisiana’s coastal future.”
Winners of a $6,000 prize, the first place team members included Subin Bista, Niraj
Bhatta, Mahesh Pandit and Aakash Poudel, all from Nepal. The team developed an AIpowered Mosaic Analysis Platform designed to automate the massive manual workload of coastal scientists. The technology created was a custom-built AI model that detects birds in high-altitude aerial drone and helicopter imagery
Winners of a $3,000 prize, the second place team members included Satyam Pathak, Nikhil Shah and Alish Dhamaia, all from Nepal, and Olisemeka Nmarkwe of Nigeria. The group built a fully open-source, deploymentready SaaS platform for bird colony monitoring. The technology created and called their “Nest” suite included NestVision (using Ultralytics YOLOv8), NestChat (an AI chatbot for 11 years of survey data), and FloodWatch for coastal flooding risk intelligence. The finalist team members included Amber Kirk of Hammond and Keira Stewart of Baton Rouge. They reached the finals with Coastal Wildlife Monitor, an environmental monitoring platform. Using a robust stack of .NET Aspire, React, and Python Fast API, the team combined YOLO models with Google’s Gemini AI for multimodal ecological analysis, integrating external NOAA and Louisiana coastal erosion data.
“It is inspiring to see our international students working alongside our American students to place Southeastern at the forefront of AI and environmental innovation in Louisiana,” Alkadi said. “These victories highlight the strength of our Computer Science Department and the incredible career readiness of our students.”
Special Olympics Louisiana partners with Mississippi for state summer games
Community news report
Special Olympics Louisiana has announce a landmark collaboration that will bring athletes from Special Olympics Mississippi to join Louisiana athletes at this year’s State Summer Games.
The event, May 22–24 at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, will serve as a celebration of unity, sportsmanship and the transformative power of inclusion, as athletes from both states compete, a news release said. Sports offered are bocce, golf, pickleball, powerlifting and track and field.
This one-time partnership marks a significant expansion of State Summer Games, providing an opportunity for cross-state friendship and athletic excellence. Athletes
from Mississippi will join Louisiana’s Games, creating a larger, community of competitors, coaches and supporters.
“We are honored to welcome our neighbors from Special Olympics Mississippi to Louisiana for what promises to be an unforgettable State Summer Games,” said John Guzzardo, president and CEO of Special Olympics Louisiana. “Inclusion knows no state lines. By bringing our communities together we are demonstrating that our movement is stronger when we unite. This is more than just a competition; it is a testament to the joy courage, and determination that our athletes bring to the field every single day We cannot wait to see the incredible energy this partnership will bring to Hammond.”
The need for volunteers is greater than ever Special Olympics Louisiana is actively seeking dedicated volunteers to assist with various aspects of the games, including event operations, athlete escorts, awards ceremonies and cheering sections.
“Every volunteer at our Summer Games plays a vital part in changing lives,” Guzzardo said. “We invite everyone in the community to join us in Hammond. Whether you can give a few hours or the entire weekend, your presence will make a world of difference to our athletes.” Interested individuals can learn more and register to volunteer by visiting the
