Bossier Parish schools honor students, JROTC marksmanship team and communications officer
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Summary
The Bossier Parish School Board recognized student award winners and a JROTC marksmanship team headed to national competition, and honored communications officer Sonya Bales after she was named a regional 'Remarkable Woman,' receiving a $1,000 charitable award and an all‑expenses trip to Nashville.
At its March 5 meeting the Bossier Parish School Board honored students, school clubs and staff for academic, service and extracurricular achievements.
Communications officer Sonya Bales presented student recognitions, introducing April Martinez and Kate Tynes as honorees in the 2026 Virginia Kate Sheehy Most Influential Young Woman awards. Bales described both students as "extraordinary" and noted Martinez's academic and extracurricular leadership and Tynes's community service contributions.
The board also recognized Houghton High School's marksmanship team, the Bucks in Blue, which won a Civilian Marksmanship Program state competition and placed strongly at national level events. Sonya Bales named individual performers including Chris Fick (personal best of 557 out of 600), Ethan Evans and Erin Rigsby and said the team earned an invitation to the JROTC All‑Service National Championships; the district said the next competition will be at Camp Perry, Ohio.
Community partners — including the Bossier Chamber, the Military Support Foundation and Bossier Federal Credit Union — presented checks to support school military clubs and announced an April t‑shirt contest open to students across the parish; winners were recognized and $200 awards presented to student winners such as Mia Peeler (Legacy Elementary).
The board also recognized Sonya Bales after she was named a regional "Remarkable Woman" by KTL/Nexstar; the award carries a $1,000 charitable prize and an all‑expenses‑paid trip to Nashville where she will have the opportunity to be named the national winner. A recorded NBC6 segment about her community programs (including Day of Caring and the I3 Art Expo) was played at the meeting; a recorded presenter said, "For Remarkable Women, I'm Fernanda Hernandez."
Speakers repeatedly praised the community and volunteer partners that support military‑connected students. After recognitions the board moved to the business portion of the agenda.
