TGMC Community Sports Institute TFAE 5K Run for Excellence and Food Fest presented by Point of Vue Magazine hosted another great year of live music, delicious food and drinks, and fun.

More than 750 race participants ran, jogged, and walked through downtown Houma for the 5K Run. Afterwards, participants and festival goers enjoyed food from 40+ local food and beverage partners in the Michelob Ultra Food Court. An added bonus this year was the addition of the Michelob Ultra mobile bar.

The Flamethrowers provided live music on the Hancock Whitney Stage.

Proceeds from the event benefit TFAE's mission to support local education. With over $1 MILLION in grants awarded to local educators, TFAE has become a value source for Terrebonne's public schools funding various projects, programs and technology. The Run for Excellence is the primary fundraiser to support these efforts.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended the event and our 350+ volunteers who worked so hard to put on this event!

Many thanks to our SPONSORS:

TGMC Community Sports Institute, Michelob  Ultra, Point of Vue Magazine, 
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cenac Marine Services, Hancock Whitney Bank, McDonalds, Shell Pipeline, Evamor, T Baker Smith, Greg LeBlanc Toyota, Busy Bee Clinic, Enbridge, Bayou Radio Group, 360 Fuel, Lamar Advertising, Regions Bank, Trapp Cadillac Chevrolet, Super Chevy Dealers, K & B Industries, Pedestal Bank, South Louisiana Bank, HTV, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Apache, Terminix, Oral Facial Surgery Center, Dalton Leblanc Insurance, LeBlanc & Associates, Synergy Bank, Gulf Coast Orthopedics, PCM, GSI Gulfstream, DL Wealth Management, Kiwanis Club of Houma

Also thank you to our FOOD PARTNERS:
531 Liberty, Bee Cool Snowballs, Big Mikes BBQ Smokehouse, Bowen Service Group, Buquet Distributing, Cannata's, Castalano's Deli & Catering, Chick-fil-A, Copeland's, Cristiano Ristorante, Dominos, DL Wealth Management, Downtown Jeaux, Firehouse Subs, Parish President Gordy Dove, Morris P. Hebert, Motavatit Seafood, Moe's Southwest Grill, Junior Auxiliary of Houma, Leo Pitre Wealth Management, Louis Miller Terrebonne Career and Technical, Milano and the Patio, Papa Johns, Pedestal Bank, Podna's Specialty Meats, Raising Cane's, Rotary Club of Downtown Houma, Rotary Club of Houma, Rotary Club of Houma Terrebonne, Root2Rise, Sen. Chabert, The Shack of Houma, Sheriff Larpenter and TPSO, Spigots, Sunrise Rotary Club, Terrebonne ARC and Cenac Marine, The Honey Baked Ham, Walk Ons, Your Pie, and Zack's Frozen Yogurt

Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) held its TFAE Celebrates Excellence event to honor students, educators, and an influential community member for their service.

Eleven students were honored as Distinguished Scholars, who were chosen for their ability to overcome challenges and obstacles in their life to still achieve academic success, be involved in their school and community, and serve as an example of leadership to their peers. Two students were chosen from each Terrebonne Parish high school, as well as one student from the Bayou Cane Adult Education Center.

Each scholar selected their own Inspirational Educator, a teacher who provided encouragement and inspiration in their life. Many scholars thanked their Inspirational Educators for being great motivators for them to do well in school and achieve their goals. Click the links below to see their inspiring videos.

The 2019 Distinguished Scholars and their Inspirational Educators are:
Abigail Darcey and Mrs. Arlene Dehart, Terrebonne High School
Allyson Cobb and Mrs. Julie Bernard, Terrebonne High School
Andrew Le and Mr. Caleb White, South Terrebonne High School
Jamie Rhodes and Mrs. Christy Gregg, South Terrebonne High School
Dermonte Johnson and Mrs. Penny Louviere, Ellender Memorial High School
Emily Comeaux and Mr. Joseph Foret, Ellender Memorial High School
Talina Ingram and Mr. Justin Ward, H. L. Bourgeois High School
Jobie Jernigan and Mrs. Christine Vitter, H. L. Bourgeois High School
Madison Ellender and Mr. Doug Walling, Louis Miller Terrebonne Career & Technical High School (LMTCT)
Thomas Krohn, Jr., LMTCT, and Mrs. Rebecca Bordelon, H. L. Bourgeois High School
Mona Billiot and Mrs. Norma Donaldson, Bayou Cane Adult Education Center

TFAE also presented the James J. Buquet, Jr. Award of Distinction to Hunt Downer, Jr. The award is given annually to a Terrebonne Parish public high school graduate recognized for vision and excellence in their chosen field or other areas of personal endeavor. This individual has provided service unselfishly to his or her community, state, nation or internationally.

The Principals and Teachers of the Year were also recognized. The 2018-2019 Principals of the Year are: Casannah Moses, Southdown Elementary School; Jennifer Pitre, Montegut Middle School; Blaise Pellegrin, South Terrebonne High School. The 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year are: April Marcel, Dularge Elementary School; Bryan Scott, Montegut Middle School; Katy Ledet, South Terrebonne High School.

Thank you to our event sponsors: Hancock Whitney Bank, Rushing Media, and Terrebonne General Medical Center. Photos below feature Brooke Marcel of Hancock Whitney Bank and Brian Rushing of Rushing Media.
 

Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) has named Major General Hunt Downer, Jr. as the recipient of the 2019 James J. Buquet, Jr. Award of Distinction.

The award is given annually to a Terrebonne Parish public high school graduate recognized for vision and excellence in their chosen field or other areas of personal endeavor. This individual has provided service unselfishly to his or her community, state, nation or internationally.

Downer has had a long and decorated career in the National Guard, as a politician, and as an attorney.  The General began his military career as an enlisted soldier in 1968 in the United States Army Reserve. He later joined the Louisiana Army National Guard where he climbed the ranks to Major General. He served seven terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives, earning many awards such as Legislator of the Year and Louisiana Political Hall of Fame inductee. He now serves as an attorney at the firm Waitz and Downer in downtown Houma.

The James J. Buquet, Jr. Award was established by TFAE in 2008 to honor Mr. Buquet’s commitment to public education.

Downer will be honored at the annual TFAE Celebrates Excellence event on March 21 along with the named TFAE Distinguished Scholars and Inspirational Educators.

The 2018-2019 TFAE Distinguished Scholars have named their Inspirational Educators.

Each year, the named scholars are to think back to Kindergarten of teachers that have made an impact on their lives. The Inspirational Educators they have chosen have had a profound impact on their lives by encouraging, inspiring, and pushing them to be their best.

Both Distinguished Scholars and Inspirational Educators will be honored at the TFAE Celebrates Excellence event in March. Also honored at the event will be the districts Teachers and Principals of the Year and the James J. Buquet, Jr. Award of Distinction Recipient.

For more photos of our scholars surprising their educators with the news, please visit our facebook page. 

Capital One Bank has donated $15,000 to fund 60 chromebooks for students at Oaklawn Junior High School.

Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) secured the grant from Capital One Bank with the mission to increase technology skills of students who are preparing for college and/or careers.

“Technology has changed the way we learn, work, and live,” Katie Portier, TFAE Executive Director said. “Digital fluency is a must-needed skill of any student, whether they plan to enter college or the workforce following graduation.”

The technology will be used in two classrooms: 8th grade English led by Ms. Sandra Gray and 7th grade English led by Ms. Kim Randolph. The teachers were surprised with the technology on Friday.

Through its Future Edge initiative, Capital One provides community grants and associate volunteerism to help more Americans succeed in the digital economy. The grant to TFAE is one of the many ways Capital One brings Future Edge to life in the Tri-Parish area.

"As part of Future Edge, Capital One is pleased to donate technology assets that will be used by students here in Terrebonne Parish," said Robbie Naquin, Capital One Bank's Tri-Parish Market President.  "We're proud to play a role in helping local teachers improve the classroom experience in a way that inspires students to learn 21st Century skills and prepares them to succeed in the digital economy."

Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) has awarded $52,812 in grants to Terrebonne Parish public school teachers for the 2018-2019 school year.

Twenty-three teachers received the New Teacher Grant, which awards $500 to teachers who are new to teaching (or new to a school or subject) to use for classroom supplies. Many teachers use their own dollars to fund the supplies in their classrooms. This grant helps ease that burden and gives teachers the funds to buy the crayons, pencils, papers, glue, dry erase markers, etc. that is needed in their classrooms.

The Bayou Board of REALTORS® Journey to Careers Grants were awarded to two teachers of Journey to Careers classes to also supply their classrooms. The Bayou Board of Realtors® partnered with TFAE to provide these grants to teachers of this particular class, which helps prepare students for their future careers.

New this year, TFAE also offered the Innovative Ed-Venture Grant, which encourages teachers to submit bold and innovative ideas and projects that would actively engage their students. We are proud to award eight teachers with the Innovative Ed-Venture Grant. These grant awards ranged in amount from $1,203 to $8,658.

Examples of funded Innovative Ed-Venture Grant Projects are: Alexandria Bates of Montegut Elementary School received $3,436.00 to implement the “We Are the World News Club,” where students will receive boxes each month that contain snacks, art, literature from different countries that they are studying about. Melissa Williamson of Houma Junior High School received $8,597 in a joint grant from Chevron for her project called “Girls Who Code – Breaking Down STEM Barriers.” Through her grant, Melissa will purchase a set of chromebooks and materials needed for a Girls Who Code after-school club, where girls will learn and practice coding, engineering and math skills, and more.

“The teachers of our parish are so dedicated to their students, it is incredibly inspiring to see,” Katie Portier, TFAE Executive Director, said. “They deserve all the support they can get. TFAE is proud to be able to offer assistance in the form of grants to help them achieve academic excellence in their classrooms.”

Grant awards are made possible each year through donations made to TFAE’s endowment, as well as direct donations to the grant program.

TFAE is an independent local non-profit organization that strives to positively affect academic achievement and to fundamentally improve education. TFAE has awarded more than $1 million grant dollars to Terrebonne Parish public school teachers since 2002.

 

The Bayou Board of REALTORS® sponsored two grants to assist Journey to Careers classes with supplies, field trip opportunities, and more.

Journey to Careers classes focus on preparing students for the workforce beyond school. The Bayou Board of REALTORS® Journey to Careers Grants were awarded to Chasity Paul of Oaklawn Junior High and Dawn Lirette of Montegut Middle School.

We thank Bayou Board of REALTORS® for their commitment to our community and our local schools.
 

Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) is excited to announce that there are now FIVE Lending Libraries in Terrebonne Parish.

A Lending Library is a neighborhood book exchange where everyone is invited to take a book or leave a book. The goal is to inspire reading and literacy in our community, where everyone can have a hand in participating. At the Lending Libraries, you’ll find an array of books for all age levels. People are encouraged to read a book there, take a book home, and bring that book back or another book in its place back to the Lending Library.

We thank Hancock Whitney Bank, Terminix Pest Control, Pedestal Bank, Stephanie Hebert Allstate Insurance Agency, and Louis Mohana Furniture for sponsoring and hosting our Lending Libraries.
 

Click here to find a Lending Library near you!

Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) unveiled its first Lending Library at Hancock Whitney Bank in downtown Houma, with plans to roll out multiple other lending libraries at other locations by the end of the summer.

A lending library is a neighborhood book exchange where everyone is invited to take a book or leave a book. The goal is to inspire reading and literacy in our community, where everyone can have a hand in participating. At the Little Lending Libraries, you’ll find an array of books for all age levels. People are encouraged to read a book there, take a book home, and bring that book back or another book in its place back to the lending library.

“We are so excited to bring Little Lending Libraries to Terrebonne Parish,” Katie Portier, TFAE Executive Director, said. “Anytime a young reader has access to books and can become excited about reading is an opportunity for them to continue to learn.”

The lending libraries are a nice compliment to the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which TFAE serves as our local champion. With this program, a free book is mailed to registered children’s home at no cost to their family until their fifth birthday. The lending libraries will also be stocked with books from the Imagination Library, as well as brochures for families to take and sign up their children.

Many businesses and citizens have signed up to host a Little Lending Library on their property and manage its contents. The first TFAE Lending Library will be located in the courtyard of Hancock Whitney Bank in downtown Houma, facing Main Street. The lending libraries are painted with colorful books and artwork by a local artist Kassie Voisin.

Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) announces winners of their Books & Banners Art Contest, whose artwork will be featured as banners to be displayed on Main Street in historical downtown Houma.

All Terrebonne Parish school students ages four through seventeen were invited to participate in the contest, which asked them to redesign the cover of their favorite childhood book. Of the 110 entries, 14 winners were voted on by a panel of judges. The banners will be hung throughout downtown Houma in August to kick off the 2018-2019 school year.

“All of the artwork submitted were truly beautiful,” Katie Portier, TFAE Executive Director, said. “They each had their own unique interpretation of their favorite book and style of art. It was very hard for our judges to narrow down to just 14 winners. They were all excellent!”

The winners are:

The contest was to compliment the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, which TFAE serves as Terrebonne Parish’s Funding Champion. Through the Imagination Library, any registered child receives a new book delivered to their home every month until their fifth birthday at no cost to their family.

Tara Detiveaux, Director of Hope Extreme, used the contest as an art project for students that attend their after school program.

“Kids at Hope Extreme enjoyed putting their own artistic touch to the books that they had read,” Tara said. “This contest allowed them to put their talents to use in fun and meaningful ways.”

Artists featured below:
Good Night, God by Jazmin Marant, 8th Grader at Evergreen Jr. High
The Giving Tree by Maddison Jarveaux, 12th Grader at Vandebilt Catholic High School
**Other entries to be posted soon!