Eight local students receive Byrd scholarship

Eight college bound Tri-parish students are among 101 other students to receive the national Robert Carlyle Byrd Scholarship for the 2006-07 academic year.

State Superintendent of Education Paul G. Pastorek said the competition for the Byrd Scholarship award gets tougher each year.

Nearly 125 Byrd scholarships were given in Louisiana last year.

This year’s local recipients are:

• Michael Bacon, of Lockport, a graduate of Central Lafourche High School. He is the son of Michael and Karla Bacon.

At Central Lafourche, Bacon was a member of student council, Future Farmer’s of America and the school newspaper. He enjoys playing with electronics, cars as well as traveling.

With a 4.0 GPA, Bacon will attend Nicholls State University with a TOPS scholarship, the Nicholls Board of Supervisors and Valedictorian Scholarships and the Lockport Women’s Club Scholarship. He intends to study biology.

• Reggie Marie Galjour, of Cut Off, a graduate of South Lafourche High School. She is the daughter of Regina and Van Galjour Jr.

At South Lafourche, Galjour was a member of the soccer, cross country track and Quiz Bowl teams. She was her high school newspaper editor. She enjoys international cultures and languages.

With a 4.0 GPA, the South Lafourche graduate will attend Louisiana State University and study international studies.

• Erin Hymel, of Morgan City, a graduate of Morgan City High School. She is the daughter of Lloyd and Dee Hymel.

She learned about the Byrd Scholarship from her high school counselor, Cherie Garrett. With an overall high school GPA of 3.93, the Morgan City graduate has been accepted at Louisiana State University.

Hymel participates in student council, BETA club, Foreign Language Society, Historical Society and the drama/theater club. “I enjoy traveling the state attending festivals representing and promoting the Patterson Cypress Mills festival, coaching youth soccer, and participating in community projects which involve children.”

• Cory Mayon, of Bayou Vista, a graduate of Berwick High School. Mayon is the son of Dwain and Denise Mayon.

He too learned about the Byrd Scholarship from his high school counselor, Susan Blanchard. With an overall high school GPA of 4.0, the Berwick High graduate has been accepted to attend Louisiana College in Pineville.

He was named Berwick High School’s Student of the Year. He went on to become the St. Mary’s Parish Student of the Year, as well as the Region 5 Student of the Year. Mayon was one of six finalists for the state title. “I have a deep sense of commitment to my community. Being in a small town, you realize that the community makes most of your activities possible.”

• John Pitre, of Houma, is a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School. He is the son of John and Jo Ann Pitre.

Pitre was a member of the school’s track team, Key Club, Chess Club and Honor Society. However, he said that cross-country track was his favorite.

With an overall high school GPA of 3.96, Pitre has been accepted to attend Tulane University on a Distinguished Scholars Award and the Tulane’s Dean Scholarship. His intended major is biomedical engineering. “As a kid, I always wanted to know how things worked, and I always told people that I wanted to be an engineer.”

Also, among the elite eight was Eric Ledet of Thibodaux is a student at E.D. White Catholic High School and Annie Doucet of Raceland is a student at Central Lafourche High School.

In addition, the Byrd Scholarship also honors students who have completed a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) program. Lafourche Parish’s Lauren Fournier was among those students.

Named after Democratic senior U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, the scholarship is awarded to graduates who exemplify high academic achievement, show leadership potential and are involved in their school and community.

The award includes a $1,500 scholarship annually for a maximum of four years of undergraduate studies.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students have to attend an accredited institution of higher education, accredited proprietary institution of higher education or accredited postsecondary vocational institution.

Academically, they must complete the state’s minimum high school graduation requirements. Scholars must have earned a grade point average of 3.5, and have an ACT composite score of 23 or SAT critical reading and math score of 970.