56 Caddo-Bossier students complete LaPREP 07/22/02

A group of middle school students from throughout Caddo and Bossier parishes are better prepared to complete a college degree in math, science or engineering because of their participation in the 11th Annual Louisiana Preparatory Program at LSU in Shreveport. The 56 students were honored this afternoon at an awards ceremony, for which U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Carl Stewart was the featured speaker.

The awards ceremony was the culmination of seven weeks of intellectually stimulating work and fun on the campus of Shreveport-Bossier's university. More than half of the students - 31 - completed their first summer in the program, while the other 25 completed their second summer. Caddo is the home parish for 45 of the students, the other 11 live in Bossier Parish.

LaPREP is a two-summer enrichment program which identifies, encourages and instructs competent middle school students, preparing them to complete a college degree in math, science or engineering. Win emphasis on abstract reasoning, problem-solving and technical writing skills, students attend intensive classes and seminars, interspersed with field trips and recreation. Class assignments, laboratory projects and scheduled exams are integral parts of LaPREP.

Students successfully completing the program's two summers are eligible to apply for LaPREP scholarships to attend LSUS when they are ready to enter as college freshmen. LaPREP graduates are also eligible to apply for LSU Health Sciences Center's Jumpstart Program for high school students.
LaPREP spends more than $1,400 per student per summer to conduct the program, but the students and their families pay no tuition or fees of any kind. The program is privately funded by grants and donations.

Stewart serves as board chairman for the Community Foundation of Shreveport-Bossier, which generously supports LaPREP. He also serves on the LSUS Chancellor's Advisory Committee, along with many other community commitments. Stewart's son, Kyle, is a former LaPREP graduate.

2002 Louisiana Preparatory Program

First-Year Participants

Bossier Parish
AshleyAlexander -Elm Grove Middle
Hannah Amiri - Haughton Middle School
Shannon Bilak- Elm Grove Middle
Charmion Calais - Rusheon Middle School
Patrick Harrington - Benton Middle School
Shayan Ibrahim - Elm Grove Middle School
Meagan Willis - Rusheon Middle School

Caddo Parish
Mehrdad Arbabzadeh - Caddo Middle Magnet
Dana Bader - Caddo Middle Magnet
Rodquel Chism - Donnie Bickham Middle School
Shakiesha Coleman - Caddo Middle Magnet
Rachel DeLeon - Ridgewood Middle School
Brittany Figaro- Herndon Magnet
Susan Garner - Caddo Middle Magnet
Lee Gibbs - Caddo Middle Magnet
Coty Hemperley - Ridgewood Middle School
Rochel Jackson- Caddo Career and Technology School
Niharika Jain - Caddo Middle Magnet
Seema Kumar- Caddo Middle Magnet
Laticia Lee - Linwood Middle School
Jimika McGraw - Linwood Middle School
Rachel Moon - Caddo Career and Technology School
Teja Morris - Broadmoor Middle School
Deepica Mutyala - Broadmoor Middle School
Roumta Odisha - Caddo Middle Magnet
Brandy Patterson- Caddo Middle Magnet
Anupam Reddy - Youree Drive Middle School
Torry Sledge - Caddo Middle Magnet
Kanchhi Solanki - Caddo Middle Magnet
Eddy Wu - Caddo Middle Magnet
Yao (Adam) Xiao - Caddo Middle Magnet

Second Year Participants

Bossier Parish
Amanee Elchehimi - Elm Grove Junior High
Johnathan Manahan - Elm Grove Junior High
Marco Reyes - Rusheon Middle School
Nikema Smith - Cope Middle School

Caddo Parish
Tarrah Bison - Home School
Lakira Gladney - Caddo Middle Magnet
Patrick Hilliard - Youree Drive Middle School
William Hock - Caddo Middle Magnet
David Hyde - Caddo Middle Magnet
Angela Kang - Caddo Middle Magnet
Arianne Keller - Caddo Middle Magnet
Suneera Kompelli - Caddo Middle Magnet
Abhishek Manapragada - Caddo Middle Magnet
Archana Manapragada - Caddo Middle Magnet
Clarissa Mathieu - Turner Middle School
Renaldo McClinton - Caddo Middle Magnet
Claudia Meeks - Caddo Middle Career and Technology Center
Anthony Mitchell - Youree Middle School
Twidrika Morris - Broadmoor Middle School
Paige Marie Parker - Broadmoor Middle School
Jaleesa Sims - Caddo Middle Magnet
Sidney Smith - Turner Middle School
Vincent Turner - Caddo Middle Magnet
Dana Wilmouth - Kiethville Elem. / Junior High
Corey Young - Bethune Middle School