LSMSA Welcomes 136 New Students During 43rd Annual Matriculation Ceremony

Students from 42 Louisiana parishes were enrolled during a ceremony held on Friday, Aug. 29. 
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) officially welcomed 136 new students representing 66% of the state’s parishes during its 43rd annual Matriculation Ceremony held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29 at A.A. Fredericks Auditorium on the campus of Northwestern State University. After gaining acceptance through a selective application process, these students were invited to attend the tuition-free, state-funded residential school for high-achieving, academically motivated students. The ’25-’26 school year began at LSMSA on Wednesday, Aug. 20.  
 The group of new students comprises 74 new sophomores, 56 new juniors, and 6 new seniors. Matriculants joined LSMSA leadership onstage to sign the school’s enrollment roster, an annual tradition that officially registers them as members of LSMSA.  
Executive Director Dr. Steve Horton formally welcomed students and their families to LSMSA.  
 "I hope you’re discovering what it means to be part of a community where excellence is the norm, where curiosity is contagious, and where your peers challenge and inspire you to be your best self,” said Dr. Horton.   
The keynote address, delivered by LSMSA Associate Lecturer of English Dr. Kristi Pope Key, used the examples of American writers Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson to urge students to be open to inspiration and community. 
 “Go forward, seek, work, achieve, and persist. Be aware of your influence on others. Be aware of those who influence you,” said Dr. Key. “And be thankful in each case.”  
Processional music was performed by the LSMSA Mixed Ensemble, conducted by Instructor of Instrumentals, Composition, and Ensemble, Michael Young. The National Anthem was sung by Sophie Lee (’26), of Bossier Parish, and Graci Noel (’26), of Vermilion Parish. The LSMSA alma mater was sung by Sofia Anello (’26), of St. Tammany Parish. The senior class reflection was delivered by Senior Class President Anna Weaver (’26) of Natchitoches Parish. Following the ceremony, students returned home to enjoy the first Extended Weekend of the academic year.  
  
New LSMSA students, grouped by parish in alphabetical order, are: 

Acadia Parish: Austin Funk, Keira Newman 
 
Allen Parish: Malia Baty, Jolie Bertrand 

Ascension Parish: Lily Dixon, Leah Ernst, Marie Green, Sara Lawrence, Luciano Luftig, Sidley Naukam, Andrew Perdue, Jackson Quigley, Malia Smith, Kailee Stephens 

Avoyelles Parish: Kane Ricaud 

Beauregard Parish: Ty Williams 

Bossier Parish: Camren Feliciano, Anniston Frith, Madalyn Huggins, Loralei Sorrells, Archer White, Rebecca Williams 

Caddo Parish: Dixie Green, Caroline Warren 

Calcasieu Parish: Mia East, Claire Hebert, Cara Jones, Doug Mayberry III, Phoenix Sims, Riley Snell 

Caldwell Parish: Devin Kampe 

De Soto Parish: Amyia Adams, Luca Prosino, Gray Whitley 

East Baton Rouge: Molly Chapman, Kendall Eastman-Stuart, Scott Wampler 

Evangeline: Jay Evergreen 

Grant Parish: Anna Brewer, Swayzee Ferguson, Aubree Tucker 

Iberville Parish: Nathaniel Anderson 

Jefferson Parish: Lily Brown, Sophia LeBoeuf, Annalise Perez  

Jefferson Davis Parish: Reese Hantz, Marianna Sickey 

Lafayette Parish: Jonas Johnson 

Lafourche: Levi Manning, Kylie Pierce 

Livingston: Alexys Lowe, Hailey Rogers 

Natchitoches: Kimoni Ajise, Nathan Collinsworth, Shelby Eugene, Valentina Forkner, Myles Gabriel, Ethel Guidry, Pierce Hyams, Brian Lee, Josephine Longlois-Marney, Meenakshi Matta, Emmett Nelson, Evelyn Nicholson, Gabriel Parrie, Aleda Shirley, Riya Weber, Kelsey Whitten 

Orleans Parish: Padraig Bowman, Darre’Ne Meyers, Olivia Msemaje, Selena Reed, Gabi Speaks, Zahrah Yusuf
 
Ouachita Parish: Hayley Jacobs, Vaishnavi Sri Morampudi, Alexis Morris, T’Meriunna Ross 

Plaquemines Parish: Gianna Margan 

Pointe Coupee Parish: Joely Daigle, Isabella David, Bella Friddle

Rapides Parish: Joseph Beck IV, Amelia Beebe, Sage Capello, Alexander Ellington, Dylan Fussell, Cody Leslie, Aniston Stalsby 

Richland Parish: Lancelot Davis 

Sabine Parish: Blake Brown, Maliyah Rivers 

St. Charles Parish: Petra Galliano, Malobi Maidoh 

St. James Parish: Halle Copponex, Harper Copponex 

St. John the Baptist Parish: Emme Stowe, Timothy Thibodaux 

St. Landry Parish: Jasiah King 

St. Martin Parish: Barrett Guidry, Sydney Sonnier, Madeline Vermeer 

St. Mary Parish: Kayla Jones, Aubrey Harris, Chandler Hebert, Addison Theriot 

St. Tammany Parish: Norah Angove, Khylee Dial, Trinity Duncil, Lycan Farmer, Mara Hester, Brandon Miller, Dayton Woods, Aven Zeller 

Tangipahoa Parish: Shantrell Fotie, Lily Huynh, Manessah Majesty, Brayden Prokop 

Terrebonne Parish: Zoey Naquin, Presley Nettleton, Tenley Portier, Marlie Thibodaux, Paige Thomas, Bianca Whipple  

Union Parish: Tanner Lee 

Vermillion Parish: Ronald Mouton 

Vernon Parish: Makynna Averitt, Jerry Chen, Genevieve Hsiau, Makeyla Pina, Bresiah Ramsey, Jasmin Sandanski 

Washington Parish: Anna Garver 

Webster Parish: Wyatt Haley, Chloe McDowell 

West Baton Rouge: Madeline Tullier 
Back

Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts

715 University Parkway
Natchitoches, LA 71457
T: 318.357.2500 Toll Free: 800.259.3173 | F: 318.357.3189
Contact Us | Report Possible Fraud or Abuse |
National Suicide Prevention Hotline

Search

Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is the preeminent state-supported residential high school with competitive admissions for Louisiana's high-achieving, highly-motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors. As a public school, there is no tuition to attend, and assistance from the LSMSA Foundation ensures the program is available to all qualifying students regardless of family financial need.
© 2025 LSMSA All Rights Reserved