It’s time to tip your cap to the créme de la créme among students in Iberia Parish.

The Students of the Year were chosen last week for elementary school, middle school and high school by dedicated volunteer panelists at the Iberia Parish Education Center. Judging was taken seriously and was no easy task for the adults who gave up their time to select representatives from Iberia Parish.

As one of the panelists for the high school level, I know from experience each school sends the best student it has to offer — a student who exemplifies academic achievement, community involvement and extracurricular activities. They all have the grades and test scores to compete with the most learned and accomplished students in this state.

Each Iberia Parish Student of the Year candidate also must write a piece about himself or herself that includes three key issues that have shaped their life. Those stories are heart-felt, heart-warming and usually well-written.

At the high school level, a personal interview accounts for the bulk of the final decision. Those are refreshing, often poignant encounters as students tell about themselves, their beliefs and their goals. The Iberia Parish High School Student of the Year is Hailey Hensgens from New Iberia Senior High. The Middle School Student of the Year is Sarah Saunier, an eighth-grade student at Delcambre High School. The Elementary Student of the Year is Abby Langford, a fifth-grade student from North Elementary School.

I have seen, chatted with and appreciated some of the best and brightest students, many of them student-athletes, in this parish each year at this time for about a decade. They deserve every accolade they can get.

Good luck to each of this year’s winners at regionals Jan. 26. We are proud.

DON SHOOPMAN

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR