Vermilion Parish honors Students of the Year

Selecting Students of the Year in Vermilion Parish is no easy task.
Not when there are so many outstanding students from whom to choose.
However, throughout the selection process, three students did stand out.
The Vermilion Parish School System announced that Rene Rost’s Sydnee Mouton is the 5th-Grade Student of the Year, Forked Island E. Broussard’s Lexi Greene is the 8th-Grade Student of the Year and North Vermilion High’s Braydin Clostio is the 12th-Grade Student of the Year.
“We are extremely proud of all of our finalists and are honored to select these three as the best of the best,” Vermilion Parish Superintendent Tommy Byler said. “We wish them well in the regional competition in January.”
For Mouton, the process ran the gamut of emotions.
“It was very exciting,” Mouton said. “At the same time, I was very nervous.”
Mouton said she feels one area helped her immensely.
“I think it was my essay,” Mouton said. “I took a really long time practicing and doing the essay.”
Mouton possessed plenty of positives to include in the essay.
“I do a lot of community service in different places around Louisiana,” she said.
Mouton recently started a non-profit, Syd’s Sparks of H.O.P.E, aimed at helping single mothers.
“There were so many things happening around the world,” Mouton said of her motivation to give back, “and I wanted to help people. I talked to my mom. She suggested I start a non-profit, so I did.”
Mouton is the daughter of Gladys Mouton and Dantonio Simpson.
“I’m really proud of her,” Gladys Mouton said. “I knew this would be super competitive.”
That’s what makes this award mean so much for Greene, she said.
“It feels great,” Greene said. “It’s a real honor because they had a lot of competition.”
Greene was also nervous heading into the competitive award process.
“I’m not the best speaker,” she said. “You have to do the interview, which is a main part (of the process).”
Greene, a top student and a multi-sport athlete, knew what she needed to do, practice.
“I looked up questions that are common in an interview,” Greene said. “I used that to practice.
“I was really surprised with myself. I thought I did really well, for myself at least.”
Forked Island E. Broussard Principal Patricia Gaspard is not shocked that Greene did so well.
“We’re very proud of her,” Gaspard said. “She’s a model student. She doesn’t only excel in the classroom. She excels in sports and also has a strong faith.
“She’s a very well-rounded kid.”
Greene credits her parents, Danielle and Marcus.
“They are most definitely an inspiration for me,” Greene said.
Gaspard said she is happy that Greene is receiving credit for something that members of the FIEB community have known for a long time.
“We’re thrilled that someone else sees in her what we see,” Gaspard said proudly. “You want other people to see what a great kid she is.”
Clostio said he greatly appreciated the recognition from others.
“It’s wonderful,” Clostio said of his award. “I didn’t expect it, but it is nice to know that all the work I have put in has paid off.”
There has been plenty of work put in by Clostio.
“I think what helped me standout is how far I have taken my education,” Clostio said. “I have done some international things, and I have done national internships.”
That included an internship in the Bay Area of California.
“We interviewed business leaders from around the world,” Clostio said.
Clostio has plans to continue his education in that part of the country.
“I won a full-ride scholarship to Stanford University,” Clostio said.
His choices for majors include molecular biology or environmental law.
The North Vermilion community knows Clostio is a great choice for Student of the Year.
“We are so happy to celebrate the Vermilion Parish Student of the Year, Braydin Clostio!,” NV Principal Denise Lotief exclaimed. “He’s an amazing and talented young man, and he will represent NV and Vermilion so well in the next round. We are proud of him!”
Clostio is proud to be a part of North Vermilion.
“All of my success is a reflection of the work of the people at my school,” Clostio said, “and just the education I have received at the school.
“I truly owe it to the school to give it everything it deserves.”