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Catholic Youth Leadership Award

The Catholic Youth Leadership Award was established in 1959 by the Louisiana State Council Knights of Columbus. The purpose was to identify and recognize those high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding leadership in their churches, schools, and communities. Only practical Catholics are eligible to apply.

Open the 2025-2026 Student CYLA flyer and read it thoroughly before you begin. The 2025-2026 Student CYLA Application Process flyer will also help you organize your application answers.

If you have questions regarding the CYLA program, have a parent or guardian contact CYLA Chairman at cyla@louisianakc.org.

Important Program Dates
  • Online Form Opens November 1, 2025
  • Online Form Closes January 25, 2026
  • CYLA Finals in Baton Rouge are on April 11, 2026
 
Impact on Prior Winners

Additional Links and Assistance

 

CYLA Information for KC Members

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Previous Winners

Year Female Winner Male Winner
2025 Annie Fruge, John Paul the Great Academy, Lafayette Christian Lang, Jesuit High School, Metairie
2024 Anna Jean Eaves, Catholic High of Pointe Coupee, Ventress Zack Hebert, Notre Dame High School, Crowley
2023 Brooke LeBreton, Pope John Paul II High School, Slidell Dalton Haydel, Jesuit High School, Metairie
2022 Amelia Ott, Mount Carmel Academy, Metairie Daniel Waguespack, Catholic High Scool, Prairieville
2021 Emma Rome, Destrehan High School, Destrehan Lane Poche, Catholic High School, Baton Rouge
2020 No Winner due to coronavirus pandemic No Winner due to coronavirus pandemic
2019 Celeste Marie Lirette, Loyola College Prep. School, Shreveport William Hebert, St. Thomas More High School, Lafayette
2018 Lauren Watson, Hahnville High School, Luling Joseph Kelley, Pope John Paul II High School, Slidell
2017 Lucia Boyd, Loyola Prep School, Shreveport Johnathan Zeringue, Hahnville High School, Luling
2016 Brandy Solice, Caddo Magnet High School, Shreveport John Hobgood, Loyola Prep School, Shreveport
2015 Chloe Boudreaux, St. Joseph's Academy, Baton Rouge Mason Pearcy, Pope John Paul II High School, Slidell
2014 Hannah Longino, Oakdale High School, Oakdale Charlton Boyd, Loyola Prep Academy, Shreveport
2013 Brittany Domingue, Notre Dame High School, Crowley Tristan Bagala, Vanderbilt Catholic High School, Houma
2012 Morgan Richard, Elton High School, Elton Carter Boyd, Loyola Prep Academy, Shreveport
2011 Amanda Leblanc, Vermillion Catholic High School, Abbeville Glenn Gilyot, Jr., St Augustine High School, New Orleans
2010 Alyssa Watkins, Lacassine High School, Lacassine Stephen Whipple, St. Frederick High School, Monroe
2009 Brittany David, Notre Dame High School, Crowley Trevor Boudreaux, E.D. White High School, Thibodaux
2008 Lindsay Walker, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma William Dunckelman, Houma Christian High School, Houma
2007 Katie Rimmer, Notre Dame High School. Crowley Blandon David, Notre Dame High School, Crowley
2006 Lindsey N. Rome, Central Lafourche High School, Mathews Matthew Wallace, Caddo Parish Magnet, Shreveport
2005 Katie L. Collins, South Lafourche High School, Cut Off Robert Lazarine, Jr., Archbishop Rummel High, Kenner
2004 Heidi Huckabee, Southwood High School, Shreveport Zachary W. Rathke, Bossier High School, Bossier City
2003 Celina Allemand, South Lafourche High School, Cut Off Bo J. Danos, South Lafourche High School, Cut Off
2002 Gretchen LaCombe, Iota High School, Iota Logan Smith, Catholic of Pointe Coupee, New Roads
2001 Cora Firmin, Sacred Heart High School, Ville Platte David Begnaud, Teurlings Catholic High, Lafayette
2000 Valerie Lewis, Evans High School, Leesville Brandon Thibodaux, Erath High School, Erath
1999 Suzanne Beaud, Catholic of Pointe Coupee, New Roads Chris Kaleel, Oakdale High School, Oakdale
1998 Lisa C. Birdsall, South Lafourche High, Cut Off Brandon C. Briscoe, Jesuit High School, New Orleans
1997 Amy Glass, St. Scholastica, Mandeville Craig Cancienne, Fountainbleu High School, Mandeville
1996 Amy Mediamolle, St. Scholastica, Mandeville Michael E. Paulhus, Jesuit High School, Metairie
1995 Deanna Miller, Catholic High of Pointe Coupee Robbie Gautreaux, South Lafourche High School, Larose
1994 Stephanie Francis Resweber, St. Martinville Sr High Kelly James Boudreaux Jr, St. Martinville Sr High
1993 Courtney A. Schexnayder, St. Charles High, LaPlace James F. deMahy, Catholic High of New Iberia
1992 Bridget Rideau, Ursuline Academy, Harvey Stephen A. Morgan Jr, Jesuit High School, Jefferson
1991 Allison Williams, Terrebonne High School, Houma Ethan Cheramie, South Lafourche High, Gldn Meadow
1990 Allison Defatta, Parkway High, Bossier City Monte Danos, South Lafourche High, Cut Off
1989 Ann Robin Rasberry, Iota High School Douglas T. McHaffie, Archbishop Shaw, Marrero
1988 Shawn E Carney, Academy of Sacred Heart, Esthrwd Jared Michael Guidry, South Lafourche High, Larose
1987 Dru Erin McGovern, East Ascension High, Gonzales Douglas Edwin Politz, Catholic High, Baton Rouge
1986 Sandra Mary Banowetz, Vandebilt High, Houma Richard “Chad” Haydel, Vandebilt High, Houma
1985 Stephanie Marie Andry, Slidell High School Michael Knobloch, E.D. White High, Thibodaux
1984 Rene Gravois, Baton Rouge High School David Smith, Archbishop Rummel High, Metairie
1983 Charlotte Chatelain, St. Joseph High, Mansura Bryan Sibley, Crowley High School
1982 Laura Claverie, Archbishop Blenk High, Gretna Michael Black, Jesuit High, Shreveport
1981 Peggy Fontenot, Fatima High, Lafayette Jonathan Huckaby, St. Edmond High, Eunice
1980 Kimberly Marie Guillory, St. Edmond High, Eunice Wade Paul Richard, Crowley High School
1979 Mary Kate Mahoney, Broadmoor High, Baton Rouge Charles Duane Lemaire, East Ascension High, Gnzls
1978 Erin Fury, Chapelle High, Metairie Dana Fouchi, Rummel High, Metairie
1977 Julie Cowan, St. Vincent, Shreveport Mark Zielinski, Catholic High, Baton Rouge
1976 Michelle Ann John, Notre Dame, Crowley Jay James Luke, Vandebilt High, Houma
1975 Geralyn Anne Bergeron, Vandebilt High, Houma Mark Delesdernier III, Holy Cross, New Orleans
1974 Julie Theresa Dartez , St. Louis High, Lake Charles Robert Scott Appleby, Jesuit High, Shreveport
1973 Kathy Robichaux, Mercy High School, St. Martinville Rene Lorio, Hahnville High
1972 Mary Odille Broussard, Cathedral Carmel, Lafayette Henry C. Perret, Fatima High, Lafayette
1971 Mary M. Voelkel, Mt. Carmel, New Orleans Katry M. Martin, Notre Dame, Crowley
1970   Timothy McElroy, Terrebonne High, Houma
1969   Richard William Richoux, Cor Jesuit High, New Orleans
1968   Edwin L. Gros III of Harahan, Jesuit High, New Orleans
1967   Timothy C. Flynn, Catholic High, Baton Rouge
1966   Jeffrey Paul Chicola, Menard High, Alexandria
1965   Joseph E. LeBlanc Jr., Fatima High, Lafayette
1964   Howard G. Maestri, Jesuit High, New Orleans
1963   H. Alston Johnson III, Jesuit High, Shreveport
1962   Charles W. Thomas, St. Mary's High, Natchitoches
1961   Lawrence P. Simon Jr., Catholic High, New Iberia
1960   Laverne Thomas III, Baton Rouge High
1959   Donald L. Mayeux, Menard Memorial High School, Alexandria