Local pair recognized as Youth of the Year by Family & Youth
Swipe or click to see more
Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School kindergarten class was honored by Family and Children on Tuesday at L'Auberge Casino and Resort with the Light of Hope Award. (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press)
2/6
Swipe or click to see more
Hathaway senior Ryleigh Leger (center) was named as two Youths of the Year by Family and Children on Tuesday at L'Auberge Casino and Resort. He is flanked by 2022 recipient Alonnie Celestine and Phillips 66 public relations director Megan Hartman. (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press)
3/6
Swipe or click to see more
Family and Children named retired Calcasieu Parish Sherriff Tony Mancuso as its Philanthropist of the Year on Tuesdsay at L'Auberge Casino and Resort. (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press)
4/6
Swipe or click to see more
Doug Gehrig speaks during the annual Family and Children meeting and awards celebration at L'Auberge Casino and Resort on Tuesday. Gehrig and his late wife Gay were named the Humanitarians of the Year. (Chad Moreno/Special to the American Press)
5/6
Swipe or click to see more
Retired CPSO Sherriff Tony Mancuso (right) was named Philantropist of the Year by Family and Children on Tuesday at L'Auberge Casino and Resort. Pictured with Mancuso is Sam Liprie, P.D. (Nuc.), 2022 recipient and Phillips 66 public relations director Megan Hartman and Sam . (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press)
6/6
Swipe or click to see more
St. Louis Catholic senior Jonah Austin (center) named as two Youths of the Year by Family and Children on Tuesday at L'Auberge Casino and Resort. He is flanked by 2024 recipient Benjamin Duplechin and Phillips 66 public relations director Megan Hartman. (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press)
Hathaway High School senior Ryleigh Leger and St. Louis Catholic's Jonah Austin have dedicated themselves to better their schools, peers and communities. They were honored as the Youths of the Year at the Family & Youth annual meeting and awards celebration at L'Auberge Casino Resort on Tuesday.
Family and Youth first presented the Youth of the Year award in 1980. Stephen Perez, market president for First Horizon Bank and chair of the Family Foundation, said the award puts a spotlight on 'those leaders who have given their time, talent, and leadership skills to making the future chapters of our community look brighter than those that came before.'
'This award honors them for their commitment and dedication to becoming the true leaders of tomorrow. In that same spirit, it drives us to fill the critical gaps in our community through services like leadership development.'
Leger fills her busy schedule with multiple activities and organizations, including the Leadership Center for Youth's Advisory Council, first vice president and vice president of service learning at the state level and as president of her local chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. She is also the Hathaway Hornet mascot, donates stuffed animals to the Children's Advocacy Center, and is a member of the Library, French and Beta clubs. She was presented the award by 2022 recipient Alonnie Celestine.
'She has consistently shown strong leadership through her community service and her commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others,' Celestine said. 'Riley has taken on many leadership roles that show her dedication to both her school and her community.
'She values service to others and shows this through volunteering in her community, always eager to lend a helping hand and positively influence those around her. Her involvement with these organizations is a testament to her dedication to service and her desire to better Southwest Louisiana.'
Austin balanced sports and academics while maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average. He was an 800-meter runner for the Saints' track and field team and a member of the TLC Youth Advisory Council, helping Rise Against Hunger, Mistletoe and Moss, ABC Pregnancy, and the Junior League's Touch a Truck. One of his many contributions to his school included beautifying the campus, including planters and benches. 2024 award recipient Benjamin Duplechin presented the award to Austin.
'Our next Youth of the Year exemplifies what it means to be a leader with heart, purpose, and integrity,' Duplechin said. 'As a senior at St. Louis Catholic High School, Jonah Lawson balances academic excellence, athletic achievement, community service, and strong personal values with humility and grace.'
He also shares his talents, kindness and desire to serve others at Mueller's Vintage Store.
'At Mueller's Vintage Store, he works independently, managing operations and customer service with professionalism and maturity,' Duplechin said. 'But what truly sets him apart is his kindness. Whether engaging with elderly customers or befriending local homeless, Jonah demonstrates genuine empathy and respect for everyone he meets. Jonah is not only a role model to his peers, but a reminder to us all that leadership begins with kindness, service, and a drive to make the world better.'
Three other awards were given at the meeting. Doug and the late Gay Gehrig were named the Humanitarians of the Year. The Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School kindergarten class received the Light of Hope Award, while retired Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso was named the Philanthropist of the Year.
The Gehrigs assisted many organizations and causes for decades in the area, including Bark to Life Dog Park, Live at the Lakefront, Calcasieu Soccer Club, Whistle Stop, Abraham's Tent, the Arts and Humanities Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children's Museum, Tasting on the Terrace and Family and Youth.
'It's been a pleasure, and I think one of my strong beliefs is that everybody needs to give of themselves,' Doug Gehrig said. 'Family & Youth is probably, in my opinion, the best organization in Lake Charles. They do so much good … and giving your money to Family and Youth is probably the best place in Lake Charles you can put your support, be it time or money.'
Mancuso started to work for the CPSO in 1984. In addition, he was a part of the Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Task Force, the Governor's Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Louisiana Law Enforcement Commission. He also gave his time and efforts to United Way, Boys Scouts of America, Dixie Youth Baseball, Ride to Literacy at Ralph Wilson Elementary and helping the surrounding community through multiple hurricanes.
'You know, there's so many people in our community that do so much, but I don't think there's anybody that does as much as Family & Youth,' Mancuso said. 'Let me tell you, from a law enforcement standpoint, what they've done in our community… (We) send the worst poor victims of our community of child abuse, and sexual abuse, to them to be interviewed to help us to solve crimes. And it's amazing the work that they do. And that's just part of it. That's just one little part of it.'
In 2023, Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School started a program to help kindergartners learn the importance of sharing and giving. Students would select a stuffed animal and give it a name. Eventually, the stuffed animal is donated to the Children's Advocacy Center to provide comfort for those going through tough situations.
'As a teacher, we feel a purpose to light a spark in each one of our children,' EDS kindergarten teacher Parker Bradley said. 'And we hope that with the proper help, they can grow that spark into a flame and light up the world.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
American Press
17-07-2025
- American Press
Never too young to start thinking about a career
Practical Nursing Instructor Sandra Smith tells the career explorers all about Sowela's high-fidelity mannequins that are used to give nursing students hands-on, clinical experience. (Emily Burleigh / American Press) Students of all ages toured Sowela Technical Community College's campus on Tuesday for the inaugural 'Career Exploration Day.' About 120 participants (parents included) met in the Sycamore Student Center and split into four groups and took a walking tour of the main campus, making stops at five different buildings. Sowela's nursing, culinary arts, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and vehicle maintenance and repair programs were highlighted during the tour. At each stop, the students got to meet Sowela instructors, who told them about the program and the different careers they could have after graduation. The walking tour was designed for children aged 5 to 18 years old. Alison Dering, executive director of enrollment management and student affairs, said they centered the tour around programs with hands-on components to appeal to the younger children in attendance. The explorers got to crawl into an N890 Jet, see a fully-functioning professional kitchen, and interact with life-like high-fidelity mannequins used by Sowela's nursing students. Studies show that children should be exposed to different career paths in elementary school, so Sowela believes it's never too early to start looking at career options, she said. 'It's never too early to start exposing our kids to what's out there and the types of jobs they could have,' she said. 'There could be fields they've never even thought of because they just don't know yet.' The exploration day opened the students' eyes to new possibilities. For Jagger Lawson, 11, the criminal justice program sparked his interest. 'It was really cool to see the crime scene that they had,' he said. 'I loved it.' Career Exploration Day was also an opportunity for parents to go on an excursion with their kids before the school year starts, Dering said. 'We also know that it's summertime, and parents are looking for fun and educational things for their kids to do,' she explained. 'We thought, what better event than to showcase some of our hands-on programs so kids can get an idea of what we have to offer.' It was also a good opportunity for parents to see Sowela's updated campus. 'A lot of times, the parents don't realize what we have to offer, if they haven't been here for quite some time,' she said. 'It's just another opportunity for us to showcase our beautiful campus and our state-of-the-art equipment to the community.' Spots for the inaugural event filled up quickly. Dering said they were happy to see that the community was just as excited about the event as they were. She hopes the tour will become an annual event. Students who missed Career Exploration Day (and are closer to graduating age) can schedule a campus tour by sending an email to recruitment@
American Press
11-07-2025
- American Press
PHOTO GALLERY: Fort Polk renaming ceremony
1/13 Swipe or click to see more James H. Polk, III speaks about his father during the garrison Renaming Ceremony at The Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) 2/13 Swipe or click to see more James H. Polk, III speaks about his father during the garrison Renaming Ceremony at The Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) 3/13 Swipe or click to see more James H. Polk III, son of Gen. James H. Polk II, is recognized on Friday during a ceremony renaming the Vernon Parish Army base after his father. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) 4/13 Swipe or click to see more James H. Polk III, son of Gen. James H. Polk II, is recognized on Friday during a ceremony renaming the Vernon Parish Army base after his father. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) 5/13 Swipe or click to see more James H. Polk III, son of Gen. James H. Polk II, is recognized on Friday during a ceremony renaming the Vernon Parish Army base after his father. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) 6/13 Swipe or click to see more 7/13 Swipe or click to see more Gen. James H. Polk was awarded the Silver Star during World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) 8/13 Swipe or click to see more 9/13 Swipe or click to see more Fort Polk's name is being changed back to Fort Polk after previously being renamed to Fort Johnson. This decision reverses the 2023 renaming which honored Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I hero. The base will now be named after Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient from World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) 10/13 Swipe or click to see more Fort Polk's name is being changed back to Fort Polk after previously being renamed to Fort Johnson. This decision reverses the 2023 renaming which honored Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I hero. The base will now be named after Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient from World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) 11/13 Swipe or click to see more 12/13 Swipe or click to see more Fort Polk's name is being changed back to Fort Polk after previously being renamed to Fort Johnson. This decision reverses the 2023 renaming which honored Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I hero. The base will now be named after Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient from World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) 13/13 Swipe or click to see more Fort Polk's name is being changed back to Fort Polk after previously being renamed to Fort Johnson. This decision reverses the 2023 renaming which honored Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I hero. The base will now be named after Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient from World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) Fort Johnson, which was named after Albany war hero and World War I Sgt. Henry Johnson, was renamed Fort Polk on Friday. It was previously named for Leonidas Polk, a Confederate general, but has been renamed in honor of Gen. James H. Polk, who received the Silver Star for his service in World War II.
American Press
10-07-2025
- American Press
Lending a helping hand: Ministry aids area's needy in effort to transform their lives
Holy Ground Ministry provides a daily meal program that serves men, women and children in need. (Special to the American Press) H oly Ground Homeless Outreach God Inspired Ministry will be hosting a silent auction, Canvas of Compassion: Art that Speaks, Compassion that Heals, from 6-8 p.m. Friday. The event will be at The Venue Event Center at 2525 2nd Ave. Guests should enter through the red door. The elegant evening will feature two talented local artists, Candice Alexander, who is also a partner of the ministry, and portraits by Eddie Mormon. Pottery and vintage items will be available. Guests will be provided with a curated charcuterie spread and an atmosphere dedicated to purpose and healing. A $25 entry fee can be paid online at or at the door. Cash and credit cards will be accepted at the door. Dinner will be served. Guests will have the opportunity to meet survivors of trafficking who have gone through Holy Ground Ministry and would like to share their stories of overcoming and hope. Money raised will directly benefit homeless veterans, victims of human trafficking and domestic violence survivors and provide basic needs such as deodorant, soap, underwear, sanitary napkins, toothbrushes, combs and dry shampoo. Holy Ground Ministry is a dedicated advocate for vulnerable individuals. Its mission is carried through services such as temporary housing, job readiness training, case management, personalized goal planning, general educational development preparation, educational support employment assistance and mental health and trauma referrals. They also provide a daily meal program and maintain a community closet that serves men, women and children in need. At Holy Ground, everyone who walks through its door is treated with dignity and compassion. Donna M. Mackey, minister and director of Holy Ground Ministry, said it is a place where the hurting are heard, the hopeless find hope and healing begins. Mackey is a minister for the homeless who walks the streets to help those in need. She said she started the ministry four years ago when she realized it was her true passion. The ministry has a four-day program for the unemployed. The ministry finds the person's skills and things they like to do and then teaches them how to interview for a job, how to budget, handle conflict, dress, use proper verbiage and have proper hygiene. To be a part of the program clients must fill out an application, show up to class four days a week and show up to eat a meal everyday. The ministry says it has a 98 percent success rate and all of its clients are working at this time. 'Keep in mind, those that have been on the streets are not all on drugs,' Mackey said. 'Some have mental disparities. Sometimes they no longer have a sense of smell and sometimes I have to go back and teach the basics, like how to properly shower. One-on-one sometimes is a very personal network where they're not ashamed to speak.' Mackey said this is when individuals truly have her to hug, speak to and cry to. The ministry cares about their needs fully and it's more of a holistic support, she said. 'A lot of people in our community don't know a lot about silent auctions because they think it's just for the wealthy, but that's not so,' she said. 'At this silent auction, I plan to give information about what we've done so far and also educate people on the fundraising efforts, and this is a way that we can help our clients and while we might not make a lot of money, whatever we make is going to help them.' Mackey said she has helped former veterans, sex-trafficking victims, and also stayed with those in need during the cold winter freezes to comfort those who were not comfortable leaving the situation they were used to in the outdoors. 'I'm not a big charity that receives money, I'm just a regular person that loves people, that loves God and wants to do her part, and if I have to give up my income and some sleepless nights to help somebody, I'm going to do it,' she said. 'Most importantly I want people to know that Holy Ground is not just a transitional service, we are a place where the hurting can be heard and where the hopeless find hope and where their healing truly begins,' she said. She said she wants the community to know her heart is with her community and helping others, but she does need help. 'We are a place where our homeless can be transformed and restore some dignity back into their lives and give them a second chance, we are not enablers, we want to give our clients a hand up and not a handout,' she said.
