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gave keynote address: Mary A. Washington delivered the key note address during Monday’s Martin Luther King Day celebration in Rayne. Washington, an advocate for “the basic right to a good education,” was a long-time educator in Lafayette Parish and an officer with the Louisiana Association of Educators. (Acadian-Tribune photo by Steve Bandy)

‘Hope’ is focus of 2017 city-wide MLK Day celebration

Martin Luther King Day School Contest Winners awarded

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy of hope was the focus of the 16th annual Rayne community-wide celebration of the Civil Rights leaders’ life here Monday.
Hosted by the National Association of University Women - Rayne Branch, the event drew a near capacity crowd to the Rayne Civic Center for the two-hour event filled with dance, awards and inspirational messages.
The celebration actually began with prayer and presentations at The Depot Square, followed by a march to the Civic Center for the formal program.
Mary A. Washington, a 30 -year veteran of the Lafayette Public School System and described as an “advocate for the basic right to a good education,” delivered the keynote address for the day’s program, pointing out that more than 100 countries besides the United States celebrate Martin Luther King Day.
“He is the only non-US. president with a national holiday; with school houses and monuments named in his honor,” Washington said. “From Boston to Bosnia, roads and avenues bear his name.”
Washington lauded King for his principles and his willingness to stand up for what is right, but she also pointed out that King did not stand alone in his fight for Civil Rights.
“Many white people stood with Dr. King,” she said. “As bad as it was for us, as black people, to stand up for our own rights, do you know how hard it was for white people to do so when many of their friends were against it?”
Borrowing from Dr. King, Washington said, “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”
Communication is one of the keys to ending race divisiveness, she said.
“You can learn plenty in text books, but not as much as you can by interaction.”
NAUW’s “I Dare You” are among the most prestigious presentations made during the annual King Day celebration.
This year’s awards went to Nicholas Alexander, a 9-year-old who survived a horrendous car crash; Sheila Roberts, who was described as a person who “always sees others problems and tries to solve those problems;, and Wilfred Johnson, who, during the mid-August flooding event, rescued a number of people from their homes and helped in numerous other ways.
A number of school awards also were presented during the program (see list).
Brian Mouton served as master of ceremonies for the event with presentations made by members of the NAUW, including Elaine Sias, president; Bethalun Bernard and Yvette Sinegal, facilitators;Hilda Wiltz, Krystal Chevis and Mary Figaro.
Rev. Cozy Gage presented the invocation and the closing prayer and the Colors were presented by Boy Scouts of Troop 61.
Dance numbers were presented by students of P.J.’s Dance School, under the direction of Pamela Senegal; and by the Armstrong Middle School Step Team.
The official Martin Luther King Day proclamation was presented by city Councilman Jimmy Fontenot.
Poster Contest
Grades 4-5

Branch: Whitney Kibodeaux, first; Harlee Doucet, second; Hunter Doucet, third; Lyla Walton honorable mention.
Mire: Marilyn Angelle, first.
Rayne Catholic: Chloe Guidry, first; Hayden Cary, second; William Madalyn Reiners, third; William Gautreaux, honorable mention.

Peace Poem
Grades 6-8

Armstrong: Kyla Clark, first and overall; Kenneth Senegal, second.
Branch: Madeline Bullock, first; Ashlyn Bieber, second; Camille Arceneaux, third; Baylee Meche, honorable mention.
Mire: Emily Marceaux, first; Zariah Myles, second; Krisida Laxey, third; Ali Delagoussaye, honorable mention.

Essay

Rayne High: Rhianna Thibodeaux, first; Keiantay Leblanc, second; Damarcus James, third.

Color Sheet

Headstart: Briana Wilson, first; Lucianna Franks, second; Brooklyn Crosley, third; Hailynn Abshire, honorable mention.
Central Rayne Pre-K: Kayanni Cole, first; Tyson Lyons, second; Grant Guidry, third; Jeremiah Thibodeaux, honorable mention.
Central Rayne Kindergarten: Jurnile Jones, first; Amelia Vienne, second; Charli Joe, third; Jalaina Istre, honorable mention.
Martin Petitjean 1st Grade: Karsen Conrad, first; Brooklyn Comeaux, second; Breanna Humphrey, third; Jamaraus Tezeno, honorable mention.
Martin Petitjean 2nd Grade: Kristija Curtis, first; Aizlyn Meche, second; Jaylon Carmouche, third; Braden Dogua, honorable mention.
Martin Petitjean 3rd Grade: Elius Delco, first; Trylin Lanclos, second; Isaiah Guilbeau, third; Ayanna Leblanc, honorable mention.
Rayne Catholic 1st Grade: Ava Bourgeois, first; Emma Thomas, second; Lyla Griffin, third; Jack Dudding, honorable mention;
Rayne Catholic 3rd Grade: Mia Hazzlett, first; Griffin Doucet, second; Emily Abshire, third; Ava Istre, honorable mention.
Branch Pre-K: Madison Boudreaux, first; Madison Seaux, second; Ella Fruge, third; Maddisyn Trahan, honorable mention.
Branch Kindergarten: Carter Labbie, first; Baylee Bergeron, second; Aubree Campbell, third; Hunter Savoy, honorable mention.
Branch 1st Grade: Colton Castille, first; Skylar Hogan, second; Jeanne Menard, third; Abigail Guidry, honorable mention.
Branch 2nd Grade: Clarie Prejean, first; Madison Meaux, second; Addison Benoit, third; Abby Cormier, honorable mention.
Branch 3rd Grade: Gabriel Seaux, first; Karlee Bellard, second, Caiden Griffin, third; Lily Richard, honorable mention.
Mire Pre-K: Raeley Simon, first; Carter Melancon, second; Paola Alvarez, third.
Mire Kindergarten: Patrick Stelly, first; Bella Garcia, second; Claire Fuselier, third.
Mire 1st Grade: Jaylon Alleman, first; Brooklyn Hebert, second; Marley Carpenter, third; Izzy Trahan, honorable mention.
Mire 2nd Grade: Zane Higginbotham, first; Seth Alleman, second; Marin Guchereau, third; Janye Daniels, honorable mention.
Mire 3rd Grade: Conner Hebert, first; Brooklynne Bellard, second; Dayne David, third; Avarie McNabb, honorable mention.

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