2025's Banquet Information

The Ouachita Scholars Banquet will be held on April 14, 2025 at 6:30 pm at the Monroe Civic Center Arena.

Information will be sent to each scholar that will detail this year’s banquet format and information for their guests.

2024 Scholarship Winners

Jenna Marie Borden, West Ouachita High School

Jenna Rayleigh Jones, West Monroe High School

Ally Grace Matherne, Ouachita Christian School

David Emile Thomas, Ouachita Parish High School

NOTE: The winners of these scholarships are randomly selected from all banquet honorees.

Previous Scholarship Winners

2023

Ellie Kate Fitzhugh, Ouachita Christian School
Emma Marie Barksdale, St. Frederick High School
Matthew Vu, Neville High School

2022

Desmond Mordecai, Richwood High School
Garbiel Stapp, Claiborne Christian School
Carolyn Dorris, Ouachita Christian School

History

In 1984 the Scholars’ Banquet was organized through the efforts of Dr. Richard Hood and Mrs. Gloria Camp from the Fifth District Professional Development Center, which served as the coordinating agency for the event, and Dr. Ed Beirsmith, a former professor at ULM.

The purpose was to honor outstanding scholars in Ouachita Parish just as Bodie McCrory and The News-Star had been honoring athletes. Five organizations joined as Foundation Members. They included Ouachita National Bank (now Chase Bank), the Junior League of Monroe, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce and The News-Star.

Scholars’ Banquet Information

Qualifications

Eligible students must attend high school in Ouachita Parish or have attended a high school in Ouachita Parish prior to enrolling at the public statewide magnet school, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and Arts in Natchitoches.
Students must have a cumulative 3.5 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale, that includes grades 9 through 11 and the first semester of grade 12.
Students must have an ACT composite score of 25 or higher prior to January 1 of the banquet year.

Participating Schools

Carroll High School
Claiborne Christian School
Louisiana School for Math, Science, & the Arts
Neville High School
Northeast Baptist School
Ouachita Christian School
Ouachita Parish High School
Richwood High School
River Oaks School
St. Frederick High School
Sterlington High School
West Monroe High School
West Ouachita High School
Wossman High School

Dress Code

Dress Code for everyone is Sunday attire.
Guys – suit or sport coat, dress shirt with tie, dress pants, and casual shoes
Ladies – appropriate Sunday/church dress; no semi-formal/formal, low-cut, extremely short, strapless or thin strapped dresses; and we recommend low-heel shoes as you will be marching in and out, as well as walking up and down steps. Please leave your purse with your family member.
Cell phones are not allowed in the event. Please leave those with a family member.
Scholars are to report to the Monroe Civic Center Arena lobby by 5:30.

Scholars’ Banquet Task Force

Kaitlin Arnett
Janet Breard
Kanzadia Brothers
Sharon Cady
Amanda Green
Denise Green
Karari Hanks
Jennett Hunter
Dilcy Hunter-Carter
Jennifer Malone
Jerry Mayhall
Becky Miller
Lisa Miller
Adam Ryland
Shannon Sanson
Tesa Stewart
Margaret Troquille
Barbara Walker
Denny Walters
Janet Walters