Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • October 19, 2018 25 Spotlight on Schools St. Patrick senior Andrea Huguenin recently signed her national letter of intent to play golf at Blue Mountain College. Pictured, l-r, are Sandra Huguenin, Blue Mountain College Golf Coach Kevin Barefield, Andrea Huguenin and Gene Huguenin. St. Patrick Catholic High School Sophomore Anna Tran was recently nominated for academic recognition as a Delegate representing the State of Mississippi at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders. The confer- ence is to be held next summer in Boston, Massachusetts. The Congress of Future Medical Leaders is a highly selective nation- al program honoring academically superior high school students dedicated to the service of humanity through medicine. Anna was selected due to her outstanding academic record, her leadership potential and her desire to con- tribute to the profession of medicine as a physician or medical scientist. The Congress of Future Medical Leaders is an aca- demic honors program with strict requirements, and students must maintain a 3.5 GPA to attend. Tran St. Patrick High School, Biloxi Heith Shinn, a 2018 graduate of OLF Elementary, qualified to par- ticipate in the annual Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP). Heith quali- fied for this by scoring in the 95th percentile or higher on his standard- ized tests which were taken during his sixth-grade year at OLF Elementary. He is eligible to take either the SAT or the ACT with high school students throughout the country to compete for scholarship offers and to attend educational programs after his seventh-grade year. Shinn Students, faculty, parents, and friends came to OLF Elementary for a presentation by Ric Urban, Director of Animal Care & Conservation for the new MS Aquarium. Urban gave the audience a preview of the animal exhibits that will be included in the new MS Aquarium set to open in the fall of 2019. The animals that will live at the aquarium include alligators, dolphins, river otters, and stringrays. The highlight of the presentation was the unveiling of a baby alligator “Bob” (pictured). All the students were able to meet Bob and touch his skin. “We look forward to the opening of the new aquarium and the education opportunities it will bring for our students and the coast,” said OLF principal Cindy Hahn. The Flight Care Rescue 5 helicopter, left, landed at St. James Elementary in Gulfport on Sept. 21. Flight Care Rescue 5 is based out of Gulfport and serves the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast area from Pearl River to Stone County, as well as all three coastal counties. The crew members that visited St. James were: Davey Shackelford, pilot; Chad Asher, paramedic; and Martha Moraway, RN and paramedic. The crew have critical care capabilities that allow them to respond to interfacility transports as well as many different types of accident scenes. The helicopter carries an RN, a paramedic, and a pilot who on duty 24/7. Right, the sixth grade students taking turns getting into the helicopter are in Sindy Holder’s class. St. James Elementary School, Gulfport Our Lady of Fatima Elementary, Biloxi St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School, Long Beach On Friday, September 28, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School celebrat- ed its patron saint’s feast day. Every year, the first grade classes lead the school Mass in honor of St. Vincent de Paul. They host a canned food drive the week prior to that Mass and process into the church bringing with them some of the food they collected. The procession is led by St. Vincent de Paul himself -- or a first grader dressed as him. First graders read the Readings and the Prayers of the Faithful, and they brought the gifts to the Altar. This Mass is special to first grade for many reasons and it is the first school Mass they get to lead. Father Cuddy O’Connell from St. Thomas the Apostle celebrated the Mass at Holy Family Church. After Mass, the food is taken to the local food pantry. Left, Jackson Burns, who portrayed St. Vincent de Paul, along with Father Cuddy. Right, both first grade classes and teachers Terri Dedeaux and Jamie Ruoss