Katie Hogan National Merit Finalist

Katie Hogan, a senior at Choudrant High School (CHS) has been named a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation program, it was announced at yesterday’s meeting of the Lincoln Parish School Board (LPSB).

She’s the daughter of Charles and Myra Hogan. Charles is Principal of Choudrant Elementary School (CES).

Katie has a 4.0 GPA and a ACT score of 34. She is President of the school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA), Vice-President of the Beta Club, and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). She is a member of Cook Baptist Church.

Secondary Supervisor Ricky Edmiston said that less than 1% of the nation’s graduating seniors qualify as finalists.

“We’re presenting this at the school where it all started – at the elementary school where your academic excellence started,” Edmiston said.

In other business, the Building & Grounds Committee deferred a decision on naming Ruston High School’s (RHS) football stadium and new athletic field house, despite a recommendation from an advisory committee that they be named James Stadium and Bearcat Field House, respectively.

The advisory committee was made up of the RHS Principal Mike Milstead, Edmiston, and several other RHS alumni and citizens.

See here the naming procedure that had been put in place last December.

Superintendent Danny Bell noted that the advisory committee’s recommendations were unanimous. He also said that when the land where the football stadium is now located was first donated to RHS in 1936, the donor T. L. James stipulated that the field be named James Athletic Field or Park.

During discussion, the names of two prominent RHS football coaches – L. J. “Hoss” Garrett and Jimmy “Chick” Childress – were mentioned as potential names. Both have wide support in the community, it was said.

The advisory committee’s decision was seen as a compromise, Bell said.

The Building & Grounds Committee will meet again prior to the board’s March 6 meeting to address the issue.