The Office of Catholic Schools announces the Diocese of Lake Charles 2026 Student of the Year winners for elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Winners are Benjamin Isaac Alcantara Duplechin, Grade 12, St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles; Cecilia Reeves, Grade 8, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School in Lake Charles; and Emily Bougard, Grade 5, Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School in Jennings.
Benjamin is the son of Kristine Alcantara; Cecilia is the daughter of Chad and Angela Reeves; and Emily is the daughter of Marcus and Katharina Bougard.
The winners were chosen from the school level Students of the Year on Friday, January 16, at the Chancery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles. They advance to the state competition in the Diocese of Shreveport on Friday, March 6, to compete in the Louisiana Catholic Student of the Year Program.
The competition is open to Catholic schools in the state’s seven dioceses — Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Houma-Thibodaux, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The program is designed to recognize outstanding students in grades 5, 8, and 12 who have demonstrated excellence in discipleship, leadership, service, citizenship, and academic achievement.
Other winners at the school level were:
- Immaculate Conception Cathedral School: Grade 5 — Henry Duvall, son of Matthew and Katherine Duvall
- St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School: Grade 8 — Ellie Clanton, daughter of Owen and Erin Clanton; Grade 5 — Aubrey Weideman, daughter of Kristie Weideman
- Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School: Grade 8 — Ana Boudreaux, daughter of Daniel and Jeanne Boudreaux
- Our Lady’s Catholic School: Grade 8 — Genevieve Thomas, daughter of Kenneth and Jenny Thomas; Grade 5 — Perrin Mouton, son of Justin and Beth Mouton
Winners were selected for the Diocesan Student of the Year honor based on academic achievement, school organization participation, community service, leadership activities, an essay writing assignment, and an interview with a panel of four judges.
