VERMILION PARISH STUDENT OF THE YEAR: Erath Middle’s Viator proud to represent ‘Bobcat Blue’

Rylann Viator is proud to be part of the Erath community, right down to its distinctive color. 
“Where I come from, it’s not royal blue; it’s Bobcat blue,” Viator said proudly. “We are one town, one family and one community.”
That community can now, in turn, take pride in Viator, as the 8th-grader at Erath Middle School has been named the Vermilion Parish Middle School Student of the Year.
“I couldn’t be prouder to represent Erath Middle School as the 2024-2025 student of the year and Vermilion Parish as their Parish Student of the Year,” Viator said.
While maintaining a view of the bigger picture, Viator did take some time to reflect on what the award meant to her personally, as well as for her parents, Jake and Amber Viator, and younger sister, Spencer Claire.
“Being named Vermilion Parish Student of the Year is an incredible honor,” Viator said. “All my hard work and countless hours spent participating in school sports, clubs and activities, and volunteering in my community have paid off. This honor not only reflects academic achievements, but it is also a recognition of my effort, resilience, and contributions to my community and extracurricular involvements. To have my commitment to excellence, both inside and outside the classroom, noticed and validated makes it all worth it. 
“I will be forever grateful for this honor.”
Viator certainly has the résumé to justify the distinction. She is a member of the student council and serves as vice president of the Jr. Beta Club and treasurer of the 4-H Coub. Viator is also part of the EMS Jr. Extreme Dance Team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the track team.
“Each of these activities has contributed to my personal growth in unique ways,” Viator said. “As a school leader, I have learned the importance of promoting school pride in others, working as a team to achieve successful changes, and sharing my positivity with my peers.  I have also learned the value of listening to others, being organized, communicating, and collaborating with peers and teachers to make a difference.  As a team member, I have learned about discipline, teamwork and the importance of practicing until I get things right.”
Again, for Viator, it ultimately comes down to being part of something bigger. 
“I love being a part of my Bobcat Family and take tremendous pride in representing my school and parish as the Middle School Student of the Year,” Viator said. “I believe this accomplishment is a product of hard work and dedication. I definitely haven’t achieved this alone. It has been a team effort of my parents, coaches, and the wonderful educators who have helped me along on my educational journey so far.”