Brionne Whitehead knows ‘yes’ is the right stuff Thurgood Marshall High School’s Brionne Whitehead is junior section editor for her school’s yearbook.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Akasha Roberts-Bey’s strengths are God-driven George Washington Carver graduating senior Akasha Ro­berts-Bey has already racked up a Dillard merit scholarship worth $5,000 a semester due to her academic acumen.  You might imagine this could be difficult after six months of homelessness and dozens of moves for her family of six brothers and sisters, herself and her mother.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

McDonogh 35's Breionne White puts best self foward Breionne White says she’s remained on the Alpha Honor Roll at McDonogh 35 for the past four years because she was on a mission. Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Mc Donogh 35's Breionne White puts best self forward Breionne White says she’s remained on the Alpha Honor Roll at McDonogh 35 for the past four years because she was on a mission.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Student’s actions speak loudly Gutter might call herself quiet and shy, but her participation in many school activities belies some of this description. She is yearbook editor while still a junior at Thurgood Marshall High School and a top student, though she struggles with dyslexia.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Wanto Joseph’s early life pushes him to seek the best for all concerned O. Perry Walker’s 2009 valedictorian Wanto Joseph didn’t trod a typical path to being first in his class.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Lusher senior Claire Wilkinson sees practical art as worth perfecting Lusher’s Claire Wilkinson has spent two years honing her French skills in the French club.  But she’s spent much more time and energy in the certificate of artistry program Lusher offers.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Lusher grad knows her efforts pay off Alaina Boothe mentions the transition from her small Christian high school atmosphere in New Orleans to a 3,000+ high school in Atlanta due to the winds of Hurricane Katrina.  Her family was squeezed into a hotel room as “home” for a year.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Lusher senior Cora Parsonswields pen and mighty helping hands Since her freshman year Cora Parsons has been serious about her art: writing.  She will be awarded a certificate of artistry in creative writing from Lusher High School for her focus on her writing skills when she graduates in the spring.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Karr’s Jenae Bordelon works to her strengths Senior Jenae Bordelon has been working at La Madeleine in Elmwood since December of 2008 between 20 and 30 hours a week through summer as well as the school year to keep money in her pockets.  Read More ...

Edna Karr's Eric Oliver is 360 degrees of positivity "Now that I'm in it, I feel that my grades have improved a lot. I'm making more As and Bs, less Cs.... What they basically do is look at your schedule at school and ... they'll help tutor you with what you have problems in," he says of the three hours he spends on Saturdays to fine tune his academics.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Franklin grad embraces variety in school and out Though the infamous Hurricane Katrina put a tree through the Cherrys’ Lakeview home roof, displaced his mom to Houston, had his dad commuting from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, his stepmother jobless, and even his mom commuting to Baton Rouge to see her son, as well as abruptly ending his first year at Franklin, the “chaos” and trauma ended after a year.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Warren Easton graduate is a powerhouse on every level Warren Easton’s 2009 Salutatorian, Curtrell Charles, seems to have rocket fuel bubbling in some internal power drink.  She is lit up from within and raring to tackle life full throttle. Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Glendria Moore, O. Perry Walker grad, makes lemonade from lemons “Ever since I was a little girl my parents always motivated me to do my best. That’s really been my inspiration. My parents. I enjoy doing well. It’s something natural to me. I’ve always made A’s in school,” she said casually, adding she’s proud of this blessing.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Sally Bronston is politically correct Though Ben Franklin grad’s Sally Bronston was a National Merit Commended Scholar—she missed the cutoff by two points to be a National Merit Scholar—his loss was minor compared with the stress she went through a few years earlier when her parents divorced.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

McDonogh 35's Farrah Reed Tastes Sweets of Success "I wouldn't say I felt lost," she said of attending high school in Texas due to Hurricane Katrina.  But she left both parents behind in Texas and lived with an aunt to get back to her former school after it reopened.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Recent Ben Franklin graduate is considered a fury of energies Ben Franklin graduate Ben Fleury seems plugged into aiding fellow students.  He spent time on the Peer Assistance Team that raised awareness among students on a host of topical issues.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Jeralnisha Hill's broad interests fill a sound mind Family trouble is always the hardest to conquer, and Rabouin  High's soft-spoken new senior Jeralnisha Hill faces helping a handicapped uncle daily.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Lusher's Ana Treffinger Channels Life through Art "Starting from when my mom went back to work after I was born when I was six weeks old 'til I started at kindergarten, I went to her house every day and then like anytime I had time off from school I would go to her house. I'd use every excuse I could to go there," Ana Treffinger says of her grandmother who died last year.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Jon Lazo takes big bites out of life Jon Lazo, a high-scoring National Hispanic finalist in the PSAT, precursor to the SAT college entrance test, and Benjamin Franklin grad is a soft-spoken, easy-to-smile young man involved in everything from mathematical code-breaking challenges to drama and Scouting.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Camille Lavoie's nature thrives on action and lending a hand "We had to move to Baton Rouge, but my mom had to commute to New Orleans because she's an emergency medicine doctor at University Hospital. We were late in moving to Baton Rouge.  We actually evacuated to Arkansas, and then when we realized we had to find a school and house to live in for four or five months, then we decided to move to Baton Rouge 'cause it was closest to New Orleans so we could see my mom every now and then. And my dad had to commute to Norco since it was 45 minutes from Baton Rouge," she reels out quickly.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Jonathan Chawla squeezes lemonade from lemons Ben Franklin senior Johnathan Chawla had his world turned upside down by Hurricane Katrina.  He lost the personal, daily contact with family-two uncles and cousins who lived up the street from him-who moved away and stayed away.  He and his family ended up in Houston, though his dad stayed in New Orleans, working double shifts as a pharmacist at Children's Hospital.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Warren Easton's student's moves helped mature her Warren Easton Senior Donneisha Wilson was relocated to two schools due to Hurricane Katrina.  First she was at Lithonia High in Atlanta and then at Riverdale High in Jefferson.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Shyam Sathyamoorthi earns Clarence Barney Student of Year scholarship for 2008 The Clarence Barney Student of the Week program wrapped up for 2008 with its annual banquet at the University of New Orleans' Alumni Center earlier this year with the awarding of a $5,000 scholarship to one of last year's 26 honored recipients. Presented with the award was Benjamin Franklin High School 2008 valedictorian and current Tulane University student Shyam Sathyamoorthi.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Warren Easton's Helen Meridy Accentuates Positivity Warren Easton senior Helen Meridy says she was used to dealing with the "same thing" most of the time in her academic and social life.    Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Local student is on her way to Disney World Angell Luter, a senior at SMA, has been told to pack her bags and her dreams and head to Walt Disney World Resort February 12-16, as she has been selected to participate in the nationally recognized Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey.  Read More ...

Jessica Daniels wields strong skills to everyone's advantage McMain High School's choir has an alto section leader in Jessica Daniels.  She reads music and says she has "extraordinary" vocal skills. This doesn't seem to be bragging, just a fact. She's been trained at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) since sixth grade. Daniels is also part of the Tyrone Foster and the Arc Singers choir, which plays at Jazz Fest every year and is St. Joan of Arc church's choir.  Last year the group traveled to Norway.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Jahquille Ross leads where there's need Edna Karr junior Jahquille Ross heads the Student Council at his school. He's in his second term as president and hopes to run for a third term next year.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Craneisha Nettles' middle name is 'challenge me ' New Orleans Science and Math High School senior Craneisha Nettles wasn't sure she'd like her engineering class.  Her first choice was physics.  But it's turning out to be a great class.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Lusher's Brower leads the way to nature's bounty The National Honor Society is still a new organization at Lusher High School where senior Hannah Brower holds the status of president.  She worked her way up the ladder in the group.  Read More ... A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Student cooks up meals, ideas to extend culture, aid Urged on by an English teacher, she read food memoirs of the editor of Gourmet magazine, Susannah Albert-Chandhok realized everyone didn't grow up eating exciting food.  Read More ... By A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Yazmin Mzayek keeps her options, mind open Lusher senior Yazmin Mzayek says the philosophy class she’s currently taking at Tulane University, along with her regular high school classes, has been a revelation.  It’s her favorite class of all, so far.  Read More ... By A. Plicque, Contributing Writer

Ashley Irvin's Track is Toward the Positive This Warren Easton senior has had a host of leadership roles in her school. Ashley Irvin was co-captain of her cheerleading team for two years and is co-captain of her track team. She explains that she's starting to run indoor track. "Indoor track, it's starting you out for outdoor track. It's not as intense as outdoor track," she says of running the smaller, curved indoor surfaces. Her distance is usually 400 meters.  Read More ... By A. Plicque Contributing Writer

McDonogh 35’s Breionne White always tries to put her best self forward Breionne White, an Alpha Honor Roll student at McDonogh 35 for the past four years plans to go to the University of New Orleans and is considering accounting or finance as her major. Inspired by her summer work at City Hall's bill-paying department, White says she is on a mission. Read More ... By A. Plicque

Brian Johnson Student looks to improve school and community As co-captain of Reed’s color guards, Brian Johnson helps spice up dance routines for parades and athletic events. In a completely different vein, he’s helped control the Student Council purse strings as treasurer.  But keeping track of fund-raiser money isn’t enough for this ambitious youth.  Next school year he wants more.  Read More ... By A. Plicque

Kendall Simon Kendall Simon has gut feeling to improve himself and the system Sarah Reed graduating senior Kendall Simon is headed for Savannah State University in Georgia this fall. He’s chosen criminal justice with an emphasis in forensics as his major. This hasn’t come about because of the showmanship he’s seen on the “CSI” (Crime Scene Investigation) television series. He’s watched a good friend study forensics and shadowed her in class. He’s even participated in some class projects to figure out this choice suits him.  Read More ... By A. Plicque