Lafayette senior to be featured on Louisiana Young Heroes broadcast
Thrive Academy senior Corynn Gray will be featured on Louisiana Public Broadcasting's half-hour Louisiana Young Heroes special on Friday, where seven high school students will share their stories.
The Louisiana Young Heroes Initiative has run since 1995, honoring students for service to their communities, for their academic achievements, and for being inspirations to the people around them.
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Gray will be the first in her family to attend college, Louisiana Public Broadcasting said in a release, and she worked with the Young Entrepreneurs Academy to create her own natural skin care line. All the while, she shouldered the responsibility of raising her siblings.
The program debuts Friday at 8 p.m. on LPB's statewide network. It will encore Sunday at 1 p.m. Viewers can also stream the special on demand after the premiere at www.lpb.org/heroes and on the LPB YouTube channel.
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The other seven students being recognized include:
St. Joseph's Academy senior Reagan Angers of Baton Rouge is a cancer survivor diagnosed with osteosarcoma at age nine. She spent a great amount of time at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recovering from major limb-sparing surgery which removed the cancerous tumor and much of her femur. She returned to school after a year of chemotherapy and physical therapy and learned to walk again with an internal prosthetic.
Natchitoches Central High School junior Allison Callender of Pleasant Hill is a cancer survivor who at four years old survived stage IV neuroblastoma. After 18 months of cancer treatment, Allison had no sign of disease, however, she lost part of her hearing and her ability to easily process some information from the radiation therapies. Allison has overcome these obstacles and is active in her school and community.
Buckeye High School senior Gabe Hoosier of Deville overcame a severe football injury his freshman year and plans to become a physical therapist. He enjoys working with special needs adults, being involved in competitive sports and weightlifting. He founded Cinderella's Closet to provide formal dresses for students wanting to attend homecoming or prom. Gabe has worked with the Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition and volunteers with the ARC Center.
St. Mary’s Catholic School junior Mason McCart of Natchitoches created Cooking for a Cause and raised thousands of dollars for local charities by baking and selling cookies. He is fast approaching his goal of raising $10,000. Recognizing that teens often struggle with emotional, psychological, and social well-being, Mason also started a blog to uplift his peers through words of encouragement and to help raise awareness for mental health.
North Caddo Magnet High School senior Olivia Stringham of Vivian is a survivor who endured the death of her mother at an early age. Olivia became the matriarch of her family and continues to be involved daily in the lives of her younger siblings. Her experience has led her to advocate for mental health awareness, as well as champion social justice issues in her community and school.
Baton Rouge Magnet High School senior Victoria Williams of Baton Rouge possesses academic curiosity, community spirit, and strong ethics. Even with years of instability in her life, she works toward a future of increased equity and remains committed to effecting positive change. Victoria co-founded the Black History Quiz Bowl at her school. She is enthusiastic about science and her community and plans to study Chemical Engineering with a goal of applying it to environmental relief.
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This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lafayette student included in LPB's Louisiana Young Heroes special
