Author: Emily Gautreaux

Student of the Year Regional Finalists Announced

On March 4, 2020, the Louisiana Department of Education released the names of over 20 students who are selected to be regional finalists in Louisiana state’s Student of the Year competition. The students selected were a component of one fifth, eighth, and twelfth grader for each of the seven regions, and were created to represent both public and private elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Louisiana.

Students will be evaluated on their academic success, as well as their leadership skills, characters, and their career and technical achievements.

State Superintendent John White states “These 21 regional finalists are among the top students in Louisiana and we are proud of their commitment to learning and leadership.”

“We are also proud to, for the first time, add a career and technical education supervisor to our selection panel and to update the selection criteria to include career-focused credentials and coursework to ensure all students, regardless of whether they are bound for college or career after graduation, are considered for the prize.” he added.

There are multiple steps to this annual competition.

First, all schools are asked to choose one student from their student body. Then, the students compete with their peers within their school system, and the winner then advances to regionals.

Once they make it to the regional level, students are then evaluated based on academic success, leadership skills, character, and service in their community, among other things. The selection committee also evaluates student portfolios, writing samples, and interviews to consider problem-thinking skills amongst the candidates.

Before selecting the overall winners, which there are three of, a state selection committee comprised of K-12 teachers, higher education leaders, and community members to review each students’ portfolios and writing samples, and they also conduct interviews with each student.

This year’s finalists include:

Grade 5:

Ellah Sanzalone, A. C. Steere Elementary School, Caddo Parish

Case Abrams, Columbia Elementary School, Caldwell Parish

Vivian Furman, Grand Lake High School, Cameron Parish

Piper Cangelosi,LSU Laboratory School, Louisiana State University

Isabella Held, Joseph J. Davies Elementary School, St. Bernard Parish

Jonah Waguespack, St. Genevieve Catholic Elementary, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Sierra Lester, Delhi Charter School, Delhi Charter Management Organization

Grade 8:

Zachary Cryer, Benton Middle School, Bossier Parish

Emily Boudreaux, East Ouachita Middle School, Ouachita Parish

Ava Grace Fruge’, Kinder Middle School, Allen Parish

Reese Kennedy, Denham Springs Junior High School, Livingston Parish

Trenton Mitchell, Harry Hurst Middle School, St. Charles Parish

Madelyn Grace Wilson, Saint George Catholic School, Diocese of Baton Rouge

Nikki Leali, Lusher Elementary, Advocates for Arts-Base Education Corporation

Grade 12:

Antavion Moore, Ringgold High School, Bienville Parish

John-Garrett Patrick, Concordia Parish Academy of Math, Science, & Technology, Concordia Parish

William Romero, Lafayette High School, Lafayette Parish

Bridget Seghers, Covington High School, St. Tammany Parish

Kevin Kim, Haynes Academy of Science and Technology, Jefferson Parish

Anna Claire Blanchard, St. Joseph’s Academy, Diocese of Baton Rouge

Allison Lee, Benjamin Franklin High School, Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education

At the time this article was written the department of education said the finalists of the Student of the Year competition will meet at the Louisiana State Museum for an awards ceremony and for the announcement of the winner from each grade level. For updates on student of the year events please check the Louisiana Believes website.

For more education related information, click here.

The Best Side Dishes to Make for Easter Dinner

Easter will be here before we know it, and while the holiday is fun and filled with bright colors and easter egg hunts, figuring out which dish to bring to the family potluck can be overwhelming. Whether your family is still planning to gather for Easter or you’re having a quiet dinner at home with your family these are some great options to consider.

Should you go the easy route and just roast up a sheet pan of veggies, go modern with crostini, or try to go fancy with recipes that take way too much time and effort?

Brit + Co put together a list of the ultimate Easter side dishes to take the guesswork out of the potluck, so you can focus on spending time with your loved ones.

  1. Crunchy Green Beans With Butter

“Green beans might not seem like an exciting dish to bring to a potluck, but these will be a crowdpleaser. The original recipe makes enough for just four people, so adjust it accordingly.”

  1. Sweet Potatoes in a Blanket

“Why serve crescent rolls solo, when you can stuff them with roasted sweet potato wedges, caramelized onion, and cheese?”

  1. Roasted Broccoli

“If you’re feeding a crowd of picky eaters with different dietary needs, this tasty side is a must; it’s vegan, paleo, and Whole30-friendly.”

  1. Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Pink Tahini Sauce

“You can’t go wrong with crispy smashed taters, especially when they’re served with plenty of gooey brie cheese.”

  1. Keto Cheesy Brussels Sprouts With Bacon

“This hearty dish is as easy as it is delicious. After all, everything is better with bacon and plenty of cheese sauce.”

  1. Steamed Artichoke With Garlic Butter

“If someone in your crew claims that they aren’t into vegetables, this dreamy garlic butter, used to dunk steamed artichoke into, might be a turning point for them.”

  1. DIY Potato Salad

“The herbs make this potato salad spring-ready.”

  1. Greens & Citrus Salad With Tahini-Ginger Dressing

“With plenty of veg and flavorful add-ins, this salad is clearly too legit; too legit to quit.”

  1. Mashed Cauliflower Purée

“Cauliflower has become a side dish fave, and this garlicky recipe only gives us reason to keep the momentum going. “

  1. Cheesy, Garlic-Roasted Asparagus

“Fact: No one is going to pass up a vegetable that tastes like garlic bread.”

  1. Scallion and Greek Yogurt Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes

“Despite its intricate, show-stopping appearance, it’s surprisingly easy to put together thanks to your slow-cooker.”

  1. Deviled Eggs

“Classic recipe! An Easter must, and YES you can use the eggs that you colored if you want.”

  1. Roasted Asparagus with Orange Vinaigrette

“So springy, and the mixture of asparagus and orange is so delicious!” 

  1. Classic Potato Salad

“Great with ham or as a simple side that you can make ahead, pull out of the fridge and serve. Plus, I make mine in the Instant Pot. A great option if you are coming home from church and don’t have time to fuss with mashed potatoes.”

  1. Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

“”These go great with some extra ham added in. OR, you can use your leftover ham hock to make them after Easter.”

  1. Roasted thyme carrots

“This makes a simple and elegant side dish. The flavors are SO good together.”

For more delicious recipes, click here.

 

Top 5 Beaches to Vacation at this Summer if Possible

Already dreaming of your days on the beach this summer once we are allowed to travel again?  So are we!  Heading for a vacation at the beach is perfect for almost anyone – family vacations, romantic getaways, a long weekend with some friends, or even a solo-vacation! You can spend your days with your toes in the sand or opt for more adventure and go snorkeling and surfing.

In honor of our upcoming summer vacations, here’s a list from Travel + Leisurethat covers the best beach vacations on a budget.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida

We’ve all heard that Miami,Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beachare the go-to beach destinations in Florida, but this beach town is way more affordable. Plus, you’ll experience smaller crowds and experience life in an authentic beach town.

Lauderdale-by-the-sea is hidden on the east coast, sandwiched between Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. When you’re here, make sure to visit the pier and walk through Anglin’s square, where you’ll find cafes, restaurants, and gelato shops.

Gold Beach, Oregon-Vacation 

Gold Beach is the perfect (and cheaper) alternative to the popular Oregon beach Canon Beach. You’ll find crowd-free beaches, ocean kayaking, jet boat tours, fishing, and tidepooling.

Try to visit between March and May, which is the prime time to see northbound pods of migrating gray whales as they pass through these waters.

Islamorada, Florida

Although it’s only 20 miles long, this tiny island located in the Florida Keyshas plenty to offer its visitors. Choosing a smaller, lesser-known island like this can help keep the cash in your wallet compared to the popular islands.

Here, you can explore Indian Key, an 11-acre historic state park that has the remains of an 1800’s shipwreck. You can also head to Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park to see an exposed coral reef and take a self-guided nature trail hike.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-Vacation 

This fun beach is bursting with fun-filled activities for the whole family. Known as the mini-golf capital of the world, this beach town has more than 50 themed miniature golf courses.

Aside from mini-golf, you can explore the pier at Myrtle Beach State Park, shop at Hudson’s Surfside Flea Market, and explore the shops and restaurants in Market Common.

Tybee Island, Georgia

Only about 20 minutes from downtown Savannah, you’ll find that this beach destination has plenty to do without the price. The beach is 5 miles long, with several separate beaches. It makes for a perfect vacation spot.  Visit Savannah and Tybee Island in one great trip.

The North Beach is perfect for bird and ship watching. Head to Mid Beach if you’re looking for seashells and shark teeth, and South Beach is the place to be for volleyball and dolphin-spotting. Back River is a more secluded beach that has a fishing pier and picture perfect views of Little Tybee.

Plus, you can find plenty of free parks, playgrounds, and hiking trails. During the summer, the City of Tybee hosts free movies in the park. Just bring a blanket and some snacks, and relax!

For more travel related news and vacation tips , click here.

Louisiana Expects to Build More Coastline in 2020 Than It Loses

In 2020, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority expects to build more to it’s coastline and coastal wetlands, ridges, and marshes than Louisiana will lose. CPRA Chairman Chip Kline said “2020 for the coastal program is going to be the year that we’ve been waiting on.” We have many large scale projects that have been studied for years ready to come off the drawing board and into the construction process, Kline added.

One of those projects includes a plan to use dredge material to nourish the marsh south of the town of Jean Lafitte. This 1,4000 acre project represents the largest marsh creation project the state has ever attempted. A large portion of the funding comes from the fines and settlements that are associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill that occurred in 2010.

In the next few days, the $10 million project to restore 37 acres of Queen Bess Island is expected to wrap up. Queen Bess Island is an important brown pelican nesting area that was heavily affected by the oil spill and is hugely important to our coastline.

Aside from those projects, the state is going to deploy 18 dredges on a variety of other projects. This means the state will move more dirt in 2020 than in any other given year. “We will actually build more land in coastal Louisiana over the next four years than we will lose,” Kline said.

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority projects that while Louisiana will lose around 48 miles of coast this year, the state will build 68 square miles.

It’s important to note that hurricane season can heavily affect these projections. Hurricane Katrina that occurred in 2005 wiped out 300 square miles of land in just 30 hours.  Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States on August 29, 2005. She was a category 3 rating on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, brought sustained winds of 100–140 miles per hour and stretched about 300 miles.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama were displaced from their homes, and experts estimate that Katrina caused more than $100 billion in damage.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is established as the single state entity with authority to articulate a clear statement of priorities and to focus development and implementation efforts to achieve comprehensive coastal protection for Louisiana.

They work with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, to establish a safe and sustainable coastline that will protect our communities, the nation’s critical energy infrastructure and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come.

The CPRA has a multitude of coastal programs that are funded through a variety of federal and non-federal programs, each of which has different requirements, parameters and processes of implementation.

Those programs are Berm to Barrier, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA), Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS), Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Restoration, State-Only Projects, Non-State Projects.

For more Louisiana related articles, click here.

14 Breakfast Recipes Worth Trying

Some days, getting yourself out of bed can feel nearly impossible. But what is something that makes almost everyone feel better? Food! Here are some delicious breakfast recipes from Delish that will make you excited to jump out of bed and fuel your body for the day!

Carrot Cake Bread

“I just made this carrot cake bread, it came out really good. I made it exactly like it said. My husband and I really liked it! I definitely will be making it again! Thank you for sharing!” 

Mini Breakfast Pizzas

“These adorable English muffin pizzas are way better than that cold, leftover slice in the back of your fridge.” 

Hash Brown Cups Breakfast Recipe

“Forget putting your eggs on toast—these crispy potato cups are tastier and will keep you full all morning.”

Muffin Tin Frittatas

“Eggs are rich in choline, which helps your central nervous system to function and keeps your energy up, plus this muffin tin trick makes plenty of mini frittatas that you can grab on your way out the door.”

Breakfast Recipe – Crescent Casserole

“This is the best breakfast casserole I’ve made! I added dry mustard, onion powder & chili powder for a little heat. Also, the second time I made this I used Pillsbury Grands Hawaiian biscuits, turned out awesome. Will be making this regularly.”

Granola Cups

“This spoon-free breakfast is a great way to fill up on healthy fare in the AM. It’s a low-fat, low-sugar option that won’t leave you feeling sluggish and sleepy, and one batch will last the whole week!”

Baked Avocado Egg Boats

“If you love avocado and bacon and enjoy eggs then give these a try. Keep an eye on them as they start getting close to the 20 minutes.  Take them out when they look good to you.  They are excellent.”

Spaghetti Frittata Breakfast Recipe

“Carbs = energy, which means slow-moving mornings call for pasta. Throw leftover cooked spaghetti in a skillet with eggs, bacon and cheese for a breakfast that will seriously help you use your noodle.” 

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast Casserole

“Family favorite recipe. I use it for all holiday breakfasts and all my friends and relatives ask for the recipe each and every year.” 

Cauliflower Benedict Breakfast Recipe

“Cook up a twist on your favorite brunch item that will keep you light on your feet, with the added bonus of Vitamin C from the genius cauliflower base.”

Tropical Smoothie Bowl

“The natural sugars in fruit can help boost your thinking ability, so blend up your favorite smoothie (and top with fresh blueberries for antioxidants) for a sharp start to the day.”

Birthday Cake Granola

“There’s no denying that the colorful pop of sprinkles makes EVERYTHING better.”

Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

“What could be better than waking up to a breakfast that’s already made? Throw together these mason jar meals before bed and you’ll have creamy oats that taste like your favorite pastry first thing in the AM.”

Breakfast Recipe-Fried Rice

“If you wake up ravenous, you’re going to need more than cereal to prepare for the daily grind. This recipe channels your favorite takeout, but with enough bacon and eggs to keep you in the morning mindset.”

For more delicious recipes, click here.

Three Proven Ways Travel Improves Your Health

Yep, you read that right. You can officially tell your boss that you’re going to need more vacation days for your mental and physical well being.  Over the past few years, researchers have been analyzing the health benefits of travel. Does taking time off from deadlines, stressful projects, commutes, and family fights equal a more relaxed personality?

Turns out, that answer is yes! Evidence has been found linking vacations to everything from better blood pressure to higher energy levels. And no, that doesn’t only apply to vacations at spas or wellness retreats!

“We’re one of the only advanced economies that does not guarantee paid leave,” says Brigid Schulte, author of “Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time,” and director of the Better Life Lab at the think tank New America. “One in four Americans has no access to paid vacation, and those who do often don’t use it.”

“When you go away in the United States and other people are in the office, you feel guilty,” Schulte says. “But you cannot be productive 365 days a year, 12 hours a day. The brain doesn’t work that way.”

Studies show that while the average American earns an average of 24 days of paid time off, only about 17 of those days are used. Over half of Americans don’t use all their vacation time out of fear of being seen as uncommitted.

Richard Davidson, professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and founder of the Center for Healthy Mind, says “Research clearly shows that even being in green space for as little as 10 minutes has a demonstrable effect on the brain compared to spending 10 minutes on city streets.”

Not sure if you believe it (even though you want to)? Here are a few ways taking that much needed vacation will improve your wellbeing.

It will improve your heart health.

There have been some serious studies that show the connection with heart health and vacations. One study, which was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 1992, found that women who vacationed less, meaning less than one every 6 years, doubled their likelihood of a heart attack or coronary death than those women who took a couple of breaks from work yearly.

Another study found a similar result for men, stating that men who took less vacations were more likely to experience a coronary death than those who took vacations.

“It’s possible that people who have more work stress don’t feel like they can take vacation and die early,” says Brooks Gump, professor of public health at Syracuse University and the author of the second study. “But I think there’s a good chance that vacation does reduce your risk of heart disease. The next step is to figure out the mechanism.”

It will reduce stress.

Isn’t that the whole point of taking a vacation? But only now, science backs you up! Several studies have proven that vacations do, in fact, reduce stress.

While stress may feel like a mental obstacle, it actually has negative side effects within your body. Stress has been linked to poor blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and heart health.

Vacations are so good for stress, that just knowing you have a vacation approaching helps decrease your stress levels.

It will give you a brain boost.

Needing a creativity boost? Then it’s time to pencil in a vacay! “Neuroscience is so clear, through PET scans and MRIs, that the ‘aha’ moment comes when you’re in a relaxed state of mind,” Schulte says.

For more travel related news and information, click here.