On Tuesday, A.J. Ellender Memorial High School held a ceremony in their cafeteria where five athletes signed to play college sports. The first to sign were football players Andre Stewart and Southern LeBeouf, who committed to McDougle Technical Institute in Florida.
LeBeouf expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and credited hard work for his achievement. “I can’t thank my coaches and teammates enough for helping me get here,” he said. “It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but I’m proud to say that I made it.”
Stewart also expressed his thanks and acknowledged a higher power for his success. “I give all the glory to God,” he said. “Without Him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Following them were volleyball players Bryana Young and Nigeria Williams, who signed to play at Southern University at New Orleans. Young shared her excitement and happiness for reaching this milestone, while Williams expressed confidence in her future as a collegiate athlete. “This is a dream come true,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Laijah Rockward, who played both basketball and volleyball at Ellender, signed with Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport, where she will have the opportunity to continue playing both sports. Rockward reflected on the significance of playing two sports and expressed confidence in her ability to handle the challenge. “It’s not easy,” she said
