SBPSB Announces District-wide students of the year

St. Bernard Parish Public Schools Announce District-wide Students of the Year

Chalmette, LA - Three outstanding St. Bernard Parish students were recently named as District-Wide Students of the Year. Bentley Hume, Grace Dewey, and Jackson Nunez were the respective winners of the elementary, middle, and high school divisions. These students were chosen by a panel of judges of community leaders and educators. Nominees were scored based on formal assessments, a writing sample, a comprehensive portfolio, and an interview with the panelists.

School Board President Katherine Lemoine, one of the judges, said the three district winners represent all that is good in public education.  

“Meeting these remarkable students is a wonderful reminder of the incredible talent and promise within our schools,” Lemoine said. “Each student speaks with such poise and purpose. Our three District winners, and all of our students of the Year from across the District, truly reflect the excellence of their teachers, families, and community, and we couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Bentley Kole Hume, a fifth grader at Arabi Elementary School, is known for his kindness, leadership, and dedication to helping others. An active member of several clubs—including Academic Games, Drama, 4-H, K-Kids, and Art Club—Bentley believes in giving back to his school and community through service projects that spread kindness and support those in need. Bentley enjoys helping organize community events like the annual Carolyn Park Spooktacular and hopes to one day use his love of coding to create technology that connects volunteers with opportunities to help others.

 The district’s Middle School Student of the Year, Grace Dewey, is an eighth grader at Andrew Jackson Middle School. She is passionate about learning, performing, and giving back to her community. A dedicated student-athlete and active member of the Beta Club, chorus, 4-H, and both the volleyball and softball teams, Grace approaches every opportunity with enthusiasm and heart. She is also a talented actor and singer, performing in many school and community theatre shows. Guided, by her love of learning, Grace hopes to one day become a kindergarten teacher who uses music to inspire young learners. 

This year’s high school winner, Jackson Nunez, is a dedicated scholar-athlete whose passions span from the intensity of football to the precision of tennis. A proud St. Bernard native, Jackson’s deep love for his community and family has shaped his values of compassion, service, and hard work. Inspired by his cousin Brynn, who has Down Syndrome, Jackson is a strong advocate for individuals with special needs and works to promote inclusion through programs like Special Olympics and Exceptional Athletes. In addition to his athletic and academic pursuits, Jackson is deeply committed to civic engagement and unity, believing in the power of community and collaboration to create positive change both locally and nationally.

Superintendent Doris Voitier said she is proud of all of the nominees and grateful for all who teach, inspire, and impact students. 

"These three parish-wide winners are a testament to the commitment and compassion of our teachers," Voitier said. "These young people are great ambassadors and epitomize what we try to instill in our students each day. We commend them on their academic excellence, leadership, and school spirit.”