The Students of the Year for Jackson Parish has been named by the Jackson Parish School District for the elementary, junior high and senior high classifications. Representing the senior high and junior high divisions are Dillon Pardue and Ty Henderson from Weston High School. Ella Simonelli of Quitman High School is the elementary honoree.

Senior High Student of the Year – Dillon Pardue (Weston High School)

Dillon, shown in the banner above, is the seventeen-year-old son of David and Cindy Pardue of Weston. He is a senior at Weston High School and maintains a 4.0 GPA. He will represent the Senior Class on the Homecoming on Friday. He runs cross country and track at WHS. He recently ran in the state meet and was awarded the LHSAA Academic All-State Award in cross country for maintaining a 4.0 or higher GPA during high school while participating in varsity athletics. He is also in Gifted and Talented Art and Music and enjoys drawing, painting, and singing.

Dillon attends Hodge United Pentecostal Church where he is active in the adult and youth choir. He also assists in teaching the students with special needs in Sunday school and is a Kid’s Praise Leader, which is the children’s group at church. In the Louisiana District UPC, Dillon serves in the capacity of an All-State Choir member and he also participates in multiple youth summer camps both as a camper and as a leader.

He enjoys serving on the Student Action Leadership Team, and for three years been a part of the summer drama at “Kid’s Kamp” at the UPC Campgrounds in Tioga. He has worked in the drama as a backstage and prop assistant, as well as an actor and singer. Dillon also is a group leader at KidZone, a three-day, children’s church camp. He also works part-time at the Weston Wolf Stop. During his free time, Dillon likes to write. One of his dreams includes becoming a published author.

Plans after high school include participating in our church camps, leading youth groups, singing, and ministering through drama this summer again in Tioga. Then he plans to attend the University of Louisiana at Monroe where he will pursue a degree in pharmacy.

Junior High Student of the Year – Ty Henderson (Weston High School) 

Ty is the 8th-grade son of Josh and Melinda Henderson. Ty maintains a 4.0 GPA and is an exceptional student. He is a member of the junior high baseball and basketball teams for Weston. He also competes in junior varsity basketball and varsity baseball for the Wolves. Ty is the Jr. Beta President and an active member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he looks forward to the monthly volleyball competitions. Recently, Ty attended YEC with the youth group and also helped in the outreach program, Operation Christmas Child. In his spare time, Ty enjoys spending time with his family, watching sports, and hanging out with his friends.

Elementary Student of the Year – Ella Simonelli (Quitman HIgh School) 

The daughter of Michael and April Simonelli is in the 5th grade, holds a 4.0 grade point average, and is very active in sports. She is a member of LA Gunsmoke, which is an elite 10U independent softball travel squad, and has represented Jackson Parish for the past 4 years on summer All-Star teams, including being an integral part of the 2021 Little League 8U State Runner-Up squad. Ella also plays in the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Youth Basketball League and is a huge fan of the Lady Wolverines junior high and varsity basketball teams. She is a member of Sweetwater Baptist Church and is in the Children’s Choir.