Maybe you can’t be at the game tonight. Or you are in the stands, and you want to know how the other schools are doing.

Every local team’s game has the latest updated score for you, available simply by clicking on the Scoreboard graphic. You will see tonight’s menu of games and the current score as reported from the stadium.

By JIM BUTLER

If the “experts” are right, about 30,000 Rapides residents will vote in Saturday’s statewide primary.

A lukewarm governor’s race is faulted for the projected 40 percent turnout statewide.

Bare-knuckle scuffling at the top of the quadrennial ballot usually sparks turnout from the piney woods to the marsh.

The tête-à-tête between Landry and Wilson has seemed almost civil, not sparking a desire to get to the polls, campaign watchers say.

If their numbers are right then about 25,000 will go to polls in Rapides between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. The rest, about 7,200, voted early.

It is possible that local races could drive the numbers higher.

Elections always come down to numbers. Here are some for Rapides:

Registered voters – 80,765;

White – 53,107;

Black – 23,820;

Other – 3,738;

Democrats – 28,400, white 10,000, black 17,400, other 1,000;

Republicans – 30,601, white 28,800, black 731, other 1,019;

Other – 21,799, white 14,240, black 5,719, other 1,768.

The general election/runoff date is November 18. 

Saturday’s Rapides primary election ballot excluding statewide contests and four proposed constitutional amendments:

Board of Elementary/Secondary Education

Toby Brazzel R ___
Lance Harris R ___

State Senator 31st Senate District

Mike McConathy R ___
Alan Seabaugh R ___

State Representative 25th District

Jason DeWitt R ___
Trish Leleux R ___

State Representative 26th District 

Sandra Franklin D ___
Ed Larvadain III D ___
Reddex Washington Jr. D ___ 

Sheriff

Kris Cloessner Ind. ___
Mark Wood R ___

Assessor

Rick Ducote D ___
Josh Pace R ___ 

Police Jury B

Joe Bishop R ___
Randy Wiggins R ___

Police Jury C

Alex Robertson R ___
Craig Smith R ___

Police Jury E

Danny Bordelon R ___
Travis Herrington R ___
Joey Short R ___

Police Jury F

Ollie Overton Jr. D ___
Clarence Reed D ___

Police Jury H

Parrish Giles R ___
David Johnson R ___

Constable-JP W5, 2nd Justice Court

Debra Goldman R ___
Rusty Miller NP ___

Fire District 9 24.02 mills renewal 10 yrs.

Yes ___
No ___

Service Area 1 of Fire District 11 53.72 mills renewal 10 yrs.

Yes ___
No ___

Road Dist. 10A 10.04 mills extension and rededicated 10 yrs.

Yes ___
No ___

Road Dist. 36 10.77 mills extension and rededicated 10 yrs.

Yes ___
No ___

Road Dist. 7A 5.56 mills extension and rededicated 10 yrs.

Yes ___
No ___

Campaign finance reports filed Thursday. Candidates are required to report contributions of $1,000 or more in the 20 days preceding an election.

Jason DeWitt, House District 25:

Gabe Firment State Representative Campaign Fund, Pollock; Gordon R. Hayes, Covington; La Manufacturers Assn., Baton Rouge; all $1,000.

Mark Wood, Sheriff:

Carthage Hardwoods, S&L Rental Properties, both Carthage, TX, both $2,500; Lock It Up Self-Storage, Pineville, $1,000.

Rapides OWI/DWI arrests are accusations, not convictions.

October 5

Breana Samuel, 27, Reserve — OWI 1st, driving under suspension/revocation, improper lane usage, 1:09 a.m., $1,200 bail.

October 7

Jamaris Gray, 40, Alexandria — OWI 1st, improper lane usage, 1:45 a.m., $1,100 bail.

October 8

Michael Nugent, 37, Pineville — OWI 1st, speeding, 3:11 a.m., $1,100 bail;

Kobe Villanueva, 21, Pineville — OWI 1st, improper lane usage, open container, 3:54 a.m., $1,200.

Rapides felony arrests are accusations, not convictions.

October 11
Terrance Session Jr., 18, Alexandria — attempted murder 2nd degree, two counts, $300,000 bail.

Rapides felony drug arrests are accusations, not convictions.

October 11

Aubrey Blue, 40, Lecompte — possession CDS II < 2 grams, possession first 14, resisting officer, obstruction tampering with evidence, $1,000 bail;

Jacob Driggers, 33, Deville — possession CDS II 2-28 grams, possession paraphernalia, resisting officer, expired license plate/registration, no bail set;

Christopher Hayward, 37, Alexandria — Legend drug possession, sale, distribution without prescription, contempt, $1,500 bail.

By JIM BUTLER

Today (Friday the 13th, naturally) completes the Rapides school system’s first nine-week grading period of the school year.

Good or bad, grade reports are forthcoming for about 20,000 students, and parents or guardians are reminded to be on the lookout for the reports.

If there are concerns, a conference can be scheduled with teacher/teachers. There are no classes Thursday, October 19, to allow scheduling such sessions.

Parents/guardians wishing to arrange a conference should contact the school involved.

Also next week, the school system is taking a Fall break. There will be no activity at schools on Friday, October 20.

By JIM BUTLER

Bears are nothing new for Jenifer Scott, newly appointed principal of the Bolton Academic & Performing Arts Magnet School.

She was first a Block High Bear, member of the Jonesville school’s class of 1986. Now she’s becoming the leader of the Bears of Bolton.

Many who do not know of her know of her father, who was principal and basketball coach at Block before a teaching/coaching career at Louisiana Christian University, née Louisiana College.

And still others will know of neither but will remember her uncle, the late H.P. Brooks Sr., who operated a Jonesville drug store for years and as an initial member of the Larto-Saline Lake Commission began the campaign that led to renewal of the vast sport-commercial fishery complex east of Alexandria.

Scott went on to Northwestern State, earning a degree in business administration and management before pursuing alternate certification in teaching and her master’s +30.

Before becoming principal of Rapides Academy for Advanced Academics in 2017 she was director of the Aiken Virtual Program for seven years. She has also been principal of Phoenix Elementary.

Now her charge is preparing the Vance Avenue facility for its new role, a student body of sixth through 12th graders beginning next August and the addition of preK-5th grade as early as the following August.

As previously noted by Superintendent Jeff Powell, it’s a daunting task.

A century-old plant has to be refurbished and remodeled, staff and faculty set on a transition path, student selection and enrollment procedures ironed out — the list is long, the calendar is not.

By JIM BUTLER

The rain is gone and the Rapides Parish Fair is back to full speed today through Sunday.

Carnival, livestock shows and exhibits, arts, crafts, cooking, canning, even a glad-handing politician or two – all waiting for thousands of men, women, boys and girls at the grounds just south of LSU Alexandria.

The exhibit building, with something for everyone, is open 8 to 8 today and Friday and 9-8 Saturday. The 1 p.m. pet show and 2 p.m. dog show Saturday are guaranteed fun.

The midway – featuring the Mighty Thomas Carnival for the 38th year – is open 2-11 today, 2-11:30 Friday, 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday and 11-7 Sunday.

General admission to the fair is $2 for those age 6 and up.

Single tickets for carnival attractions are $1, or 30 for $25. Rides require one to six tickets, depending on the ride.

Special packages include:

Today – Date Night, two ride for price of one, with Date Night sticker available free at McDonald’s locations and KRRV Radio or the KRRV booth at fair;

Friday – $22 arm ride bands, 2-7 p.m., on sale until 5 p.m.;

Saturday – $27 arm bands 11-6 p.m., on sale until 4 p.m.;

Sunday – Family Day,$27 arm bands.

Arm band purchasers each day get a $3 discount with a Food Bank donation.

By JIM BUTLER

Required campaign contributions reports filed Wednesday:

Senate District 31

Mike McConathy – Stephen Eversull, Natchitoches, $2,000; Bristol Baxley, Houston, $1,000.

Alan Seabaugh – Womack PAC, Harrisonburg, $2,500.

House District 25

Jason DeWitt – Jack PAC, Baton Rouge, $2,500; TKTMJ, Natchitoches, $1,500; Pat Johnson, Natchitoches, $1,000.

Rapides sheriff

Kris Cloessner – Paula Cormane and Gone Wild Safari, Tioga, $2,500 each; Lou & Laura’s, Alexandria, $2,500; Mr. Green Jeans Tree Service, Tioga, $1,500.

BATON ROUGE — The reason the TNT network suddenly decided to announce Tuesday it will telecast the November 6 season basketball opener for LSU’s Lady Tigers vs. Colorado in Las Vegas is obvious.

LSU is the defending national champion, which, along with Iowa, drew 9.9 million viewers on ABC to watch the Lady Tigers pummel the Hawkeyes 102-85 in the national title game last April 2.

But it’s much more than that.

In the six months since then, the Lady Tigers have become one of the most discussed and debated and now probably the most disliked programs in every state in America except for Louisiana.

They have an aggressive head coach who doesn’t sit demurely on a bench during games and who makes sure she’s seen and heard by wearing outfits louder than her voice that can be seen from the moon.

They have a star player whose post-basket celebrations and in-game trash talk last season proudly blew up the notion women players should act like mannered ladies on the court.

They have three players ranked No. 7, No. 21 and No. 87 among the top NIL earners in college sports.

They signed the nation’s top recruiting class including the No. 2 and No. 7 ranked incoming freshman, then added the top two ranked players in the transfer portal.

That’s a stockpile of reasons to cast LSU as the team you love to hate, a role that fuels the fire for a repeat national title run.

“That’s so cool,” said LSU sophomore Flau’jae Johnson, last season’s SEC Freshman of the Year. “It comes with the territory. (LSU head) Coach (Kim) Mulkey always says if you talk smack, you’ve got to be able to take it.”

The fact Louisiana native Mulkey enjoys coaching big personalities – she has always been one herself in her Naismith Hall of Fame playing and coaching career – is the attraction that drew LSU’s overload of new talent to join the party.

“Coach Mulkey is real fired up and feisty and compassionate,” said Bossier City Parkway guard Mikaylah Williams (the No. 2 nationally ranked recruit). “That’s somebody I want to play for. I came here looking forward to her getting on my butt so I can get to the next level (the WNBA).”

Hailey Van Lith, the heartbeat of Louisville’s program where she started all 100 games the last three seasons, spurned then-Baylor head coach Mulkey in to sign with Louisville in 2020.

Last season, Van Lith watched enough LSU games on TV to eventually realize she couldn’t turn down Mulkey again once Van Lith decided to enter the transfer portal in mid-April.

“Man, I want to play on that team,” Van Lith said of her reaction every time she watched LSU. “It’s the energy Coach Mulkey and her assistants bring to the country. It’s the energy and attitude the girls play with.

“One of the games, Angel Reese did one of her patented celebrations. I literally DM‘d her and I was like `I love that.’ It’s the type of like personality on the court I can relate to, I love that competitive energy.”

At this time last year, Reese was a transfer from Maryland hoping a fresh start in a new locale would jumpstart her career.

A year later, Reese has become one of the most recognizable athletes in the world on and off the court.

As she blossomed into a first-team All-American setting an NCAA record for most double-doubles in a season, she brought an element of the men’s game to the women’s side that raised eyebrows and sent social media ablaze.

Reese occasionally celebrated and talked trash to opponents after making a basket while being fouled or blocking a shot.

She reveled in her nickname “The Bayou Barbie,” ignored critics of what they deemed her lack of court decorum, and stayed true to the way she said had always played the game growing up in Baltimore.

The public noise reached a crescendo after Reese pointed at her ring finger and included a “you can’t see me gesture” both aimed at Iowa star Caitlin Clark in the final seconds of LSU’s 102-85 national championship game pummeling of the Hawkeyes.

The fallout for Reese, a first-team All-American honoree who set an NCAA single-season record for double-doubles, was both racist and sexist.

She was unapologetic then after the title game – “All year, I was critiqued for who I was, I don’t fit the narrative, I don’t fit the box that y’all want me to be in, I’m too ’hood. I’m too ghetto,” she said – and she hasn’t backed off now after a summer of magazine photo shoots, filming commercials and playing for Team USA in international competition.

“There’s grown women and grown men,” Reese said, “that will come up to me and say, `Thank you for speaking on things that I can’t speak on because I don’t have the platform, or I’m scared.’ Women and parents tell me their little girl looks up to me.

“To know how many people I inspired builds my confidence more and just tells me to keep going and keep going.”

There are plenty of fan bases who are hoping the lippy Lady Tigers get their comeuppance. They pray a team loaded with such a glutton of talent will self-destruct when individual egos take over.

Reese said it’s not going to happen.

“I’m gonna have to sacrifice some things,” she said. “Everybody’s gonna have to sacrifice points, minutes. That’s just what’s gonna happen. This team is so selfless. It’s not worried about points or minutes.”

Complacency is a natural enemy of teams seeking back-to-back. Johnson answers that question wearing one of her favorite T-shirts with a sketch of a mountain range accompanied by the following thought that says:

“I DIDN’T COME THIS FAR TO ONLY COME THIS FAR.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports

The first week of district play gave Rapides Parish football fans an idea of where their teams stand as the race for district titles starts to heat up.

This week gives a couple of teams the opportunity to stake their claim as the team to beat in their respective districts.

Menard, coming off a 42-0 victory over Pickering, hosts Avoyelles tonight in a game that will determine the frontrunner for the District 4-2A championship.

Avoyelles, which is trying to remain as a contender in Division III under first-year head coach Corey Bannister after Andy Boone left the program during the offseason, picked up its first win of the season last week.

The Mustangs (1-5) dropped contests against Marksville, Eunice and Bunkie as well as Class 4A powers Teurlings Catholic and Lafayette Christian before opening 4-2A play with a 36-22 win over Oakdale last week.

Avoyelles remains a run-heavy team even if the Mustangs aren’t putting up the kind of rushing yards they did under Boone. They are averaging almost 260 rushing yards per game, led by senior Decareyn Sampson with 654 yards and seven touchdowns.

Menard coach David Perkins said the new coaching staff has added some additional wrinkles to the offense, but the Mustangs remain a double-wing base offense – though they will direct snap the ball to Sampson out of the shotgun at times.

“They’re still onside kicking it (every time),” Perkins said on his coach’s show Wednesday night, “though they will punt it some on fourth down depending on how far they have to go. They ain’t much different to me.”

The Eagles (3-3) have been hot and cold all season but seem to have settled on a ground-based attack led by sophomores Jake Vaughn and Aydan Moran. Moran has a team-high 266 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the season.

The winner of this contest, which is one of two that will be held tonight, improves to 2-0 in district play and will be sitting in the driver’s seat toward a district championship.

“We’ve stressed how important this game is, especially in the district,” Perkins said.

In the other contest tonight Bolton (0-6) travels to face District 2-3A favorite No. 5 Jena (6-0).

Friday’s slate features six games that include parish teams, highlighted by a key District 2-5A contest between Alexandria Senior High and Ouachita as well as a District 2-4A matchup between Tioga and Franklin Parish.

ASH is coming off a heartbreaking road loss against No. 4 Ruston to open District 2-5A play. The Trojans rallied from three scores down at halftime to tie the game twice in the second half and had possession in the fourth quarter with a chance to take the lead, but a turnover set up the Bearcats for their game-winning drive.

Senior quarterback Ty Feaster threw for four touchdowns in the loss, including two to junior tight end Tanner Townsend and one each to senior receivers Jaylin Johnson and EJ Scott.

ASH coach Thomas Bachman said the Trojans “are incredibly disappointed” they weren’t able to leave Ruston with a victory, but he was also pleased with the way his team battled from a 21-point deficit, outscoring Ruston 28-14 in the second half.

“This group has been a fun group to coach,” Bachman said. “We’ve just got to put it all together. The more we play together, the more we jell, the better we’re gonna put it together.”

The Trojans (3-3) need a strong finish to the regular season as they try to wrap up a home playoff game and first-round bye in the Division I Select playoffs, and that starts against a Ouachita team that has been reeling but defeated previously unbeaten West Ouachita last week in the 2-5A opener.

Tioga, meanwhile, is coming off its third shutout victory of the season against Pine Prairie and opens District 2-4A action with a tough Homecoming matchup against Franklin Parish in a battle of two teams looking to improve to 6-1.

This matchup features Franklin Parish’s dynamic passing attack against Tioga’s stingy secondary that has 13 interceptions on the season.

The Patriots feature two of the state’s offensive leaders in sophomore quarterback Dezyrian Ellis (1,507 yards and 19 TDs) and senior receiver Marshawn Whitley (22-538, 8 TDs). Franklin Parish also touts senior Tulane commitment Javion White, who has 16 catches for 452 yards and six TDs on offense, two return TDs on special teams and three interceptions on defense.

Tioga counters with two of its own two-way stars in senior safeties Ja’Corian Norris and Josh Loyd. They lead a secondary that has returned seven interceptions for scores, including four pick-sixes from Norris, who also has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. The duo has combined for 267 receiving yards and five TDs.

Other games this week involving parish teams are Pineville traveling to face Ruston, Peabody hosting Class 1A No. 7 St. Mary’s, Buckeye welcoming unbeaten Bunkie to town in a big District 2-3A showdown, and Northwood-Lena hosting No. 8 Logansport.

By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/YouTube TV

I thought it might be fun to share my favorite players to ever come out of the Alexandria/Pineville area, players from many years of first watching, then over three decades covering high school football around our state.

Everybody has their favorite players that they watched, and this list is what I saw in my years from the late ‘70s to the current 2023 season. I am sure I will leave someone out who might be your favorite but today I will share my list.

My favorite player of all time to come out of the Alexandria area in high school football is Jalen Richard, who prepped at Peabody High School and played several years in the NFL after playing in college for the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.

Jalen was 5-8, 185 pounds in high school, not ranked among the best recruits in Louisiana, but went on to have a stellar career in both college and the NFL. He might be one of the toughest running backs I’ve ever seen carry the ball in high school and had an incredible burst hitting the line of scrimmage. Jalen spent most of his pro career at 201 pounds, playing for the Oakland Raiders.

My second favorite local player to ever watch is Kenny Mixon, an LSU defensive end and an NFL player with the Miami Dolphins. Kenny to this day is the most gifted player I’ve ever seen come out of the Alexandria/Pineville area. In college he ran a 4.6 forty at 6-4, 255 pounds and his talent was at another level at Pineville High School.

Next I will go with Cody Ford, offensive lineman from Pineville High School. I remember seeing his film from his junior year at Pineville, and he had so many pancake blocks it took three pages to mark down. I remember also that LSU under Les Miles did not recruit this kid until two years after Oklahoma did. He made All-America at Oklahoma and is still a pro to this day.

Fourth on my local stars list, I will go with Craig Nall from Alexandria High School, a 1997 recruit. Craig signed with LSU, got tangled in a coaching change and a three-way QB derby, had injuries, and after Nick Saban arrived and began to sort it out, Nall transferred to Northwestern State for his senior season. Another of the tremendous players Butch Stoker produced at ASH. Stoker’s son, Scott, was a gutsy and record-breaking QB at NSU, and later, the last Demons coach to win a championship there.

Craig had a incredible season with the Demons, took them to the FCS playoffs, broke a ton of records, was an All-America throwing the javelin, and was a fifth-round NFL Draft pick. He played several years with Buffalo and Green Bay (backing up Brett Favre) as the No. 2 guy, and had a great season in NFL Europe. Craig was 6-3 and had a great arm. Is now a QB guru in the DFW metroplex.

My No. 5 Cenla stud is offensive lineman Reginald Nelson. He came from ASH in 1994, was a All Southland Conference player two different times, made FCS All-America for a very good McNeese team. Blake Miller went to LSU and was tremendous in the late 1980s, but Nelson to me may be the most gifted lineman ever to come out of ASH and along with Miller, they have had some good ones.

Honorable mention on my list of Cenla studs:

RB Tony Taylor, Pineville High School, Class of 1998. All-Southland as a true freshman for an FCS semifinal team. Broke all the records at Northwestern State, had three NFL seasons, earned a Super Bowl ring with Tampa Bay, backed up Emmitt Smith in Dallas. Now has a doctoral degree and is education in Houston.

RB Chris Brown, Alexandria HS, Class of 2005. Started 3 years for Oklahoma. He was unstoppable in high school.

WR DJ Chark, Alexandria HS. Starred at LSU, is playing in the NFL now.

Kicker Chris Boniol, Alexandria HS. Was great at Louisiana Tech, found his way to the NFL as a fres agent, then earned a job with the Dallas Cowboys. Has since coached in the NFL and in college. His dad was a great baseball coach at ASH.

DE Bruce Radford, Tioga HS. Drafted in the 3^rd Round by the Denver Broncos.

DB Chris Williams, Tioga HS in the late 1970s, became a really quality player at LSU and played in the NFL.

DT Jacobian Guillory, Alexandria HS. In high school was a man among boys every week, and now is playing at LSU.

From here, didn’t play here:

Two players who were born in Alexandria but did not go to school here are RB Anthony (A-Train) Thomas, who played at Winnfield HS and became a Michigan All-American and NFL star with the Chicago Bears, and QB Bubby Brister, who played at Neville HS and Northeast Louisiana in college before playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brister’s dad was a leader in youth baseball in Cenla.

Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com

Look in the tackle boxes of any 10 bass fishermen you know, not only here in Louisiana but around the country as well, and chances are excellent you’ll find a Rat-L-Trap or two in half of them.

With millions sold for years, this outstanding bass lure had its beginning here, and in fact, still calls Alexandria its home.                                                              

Some time ago, I had the privilege of joining a group of writers on a tour of north Louisiana lakes and outdoor-related industries to showcase just what our part of the world has to offer the fisherman. Hosted by the Explore Louisiana North group, one of our stops was at the Bill Lewis Lure Company in Alexandria. Quite frankly, I was a bit shocked at what I saw.                                                    

For a company that has enjoyed this sort of success for decades, you’d think that there’d be a handful of workers simply pushing buttons to turn chunks of plastic into Rat-L-Traps that would be machine-painted and outfitted. This was not the case as I watched folks sitting at tables within the building hand painting lures, affixing eyes and attaching hooks to produce the finished product. 

Apparently the company treats its employees quite well. The average worker on the assembly line at Bill Lewis Lures has been there for at least a dozen years, according to a company spokesman.        

As fascinating as it was to watch the assembly of these fantastic fish catchers, the origin of the Rat-L-Trap is just as intriguing. Searching the internet, I found the following account on the company’s web site of how Bill Lewis came up with this lure and how it got its name.                                                                   

“In the early years,” according to the company history section, “Bill Lewis, who passed away in 2005, sold various lures from the back of his old ‘rattletrap’ Ford station wagon. This routine gave no indication of the success the business would later enjoy. On more than one sales trip, Bill had no choice but to sell his products below cost just to earn enough gas money to get back home. But, Bill’s perseverance kept the business alive until one day in the late ‘60s a friend with an assortment of Bill’s new prototypes revealed the powerful potential of Bill’s creation.                                               

“Bill and his partner were heading for the boat launch after a ‘tough bite’ sent them packing. They were cruising along a main channel of Toledo Bend when they noticed a large group of boats gathered at the channel’s edge. As they got closer they could see that none of the fishermen in the group of boats were fishing, but rather were watching another boat nearby where two fishermen were casting feverishly into the standing wooded area just off the main channel, catching 6, 7 and 8 pound bass.          

 “As Bill moved in for a closer look, he recognized the two successful anglers, one being his fishing buddy that had picked up some of his new lures the day before. Bill called out to his friend asking the logical question, ‘what bait are you using’? ‘That silly lookin’, rattling bait’, his friend announced.                           

“Those that witnessed the debut of the future all-time bestseller had no doubt that this bait was something very special. During his drive home that day, one other thing happened which remains one of Bill’s most creative moments. As he was manually operating the broken down windshield wiper of his old car, with one hand on the wheel and one out the window, he thought to himself, ‘Rattletrap – that’s what I’ll call it.’   

A tip of the hat to the late Bill Lewis who started it all right here in the heart of Louisiana, the Sportsman’s Paradise. 

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

Louisiana Christian University hosted Educators Rising students from Tioga High School and Pineville High School on Monday to connect students interested in becoming teachers with professors who shared information about the process of becoming educators.

THS adviser Sarah Smith and PHS adviser Teri Mayeux brought a total of 35 students from their schools for the event.

“It is vital that we support our local schools, as we have certified and trained many of their teachers,” said Victory Lindo-Lemons, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Lindo-Lemons coordinated the event, which included a campus tour, lunch, class visits and breakout sessions with education faculty. Each student received information about LCU and a T-shirt.

“LCU is an exceptional institution that provides students with various opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge,” Smith said. “I would be delighted to see my students pursue their education as an LCU Wildcat, particularly in the school of education.”

Smith said one of the reasons she introduced her Educators Rising students to LCU was because of her own experience in the Master of Education program here.

“Campus tours gave the students a chance to explore LCU’s campus,” she said. “While visiting, students were introduced to career opportunities and pathways that could lead them to their future endeavors. Students were able to experience a college course, which helped them connect the importance of the Educator’s Rising curriculum currently being taught.  Partnering with LCU allows Rapides Parish School Board to continue ‘Growing their Own’ teachers and building strong communities.”

Blake Quales, assistant professor of education, spoke to students on “Winning with Students: Building Relationships.”

“I shared with the Educators Rising group that being an educator involves more than just competence in content knowledge,” Quales said. “You have to be able to connect with students. You have to reach them before you can teach them! Building relationships with students increases student engagement and achievement levels, creates a classroom culture that is welcoming and produces a high-performing team.”

Quales said he was inspired to see so many young people from Rapides Parish interested in the teaching profession.

“As a male in the education profession, I was particularly excited to see several young men interested in becoming teachers,” he said. “Students need to see positive male role models in their life. Schools benefit from having men rise up to the challenge of shouldering the exceptional responsibility of shaping the next generation. Seeing this interest on their part accelerated my enthusiasm to recruit more men for this field.”