Student, Teacher and Supporter of the Year Recognized

Notre Dame High School proudly recognized three outstanding members of its school community during a recent mass, naming Mia Hoffpauir as Student of the Year, Randy Schexnayder as Teacher of the Year, and Kellie Duhon as Supporter of the Year. These honorees exemplify the school’s mission through leadership, service, faith, and dedication to Catholic education.
Mia Hoffpauir was named Student of the Year for her outstanding leadership, school spirit, and commitment to faith and service. A four-year member of Student Council, she served as Class Historian through her junior year and as Board Vice President her senior year. Hoffpauir has been actively involved in Beta Club, FFA, Prom Committee, and athletics, serving as Football Trainer for four years and Head Trainer as a senior, in addition to joining the basketball team this year.
Her faith has been central to her high school experience. A four-year member of Campus Ministry, Hoffpauir serves on the Retreat Team and as a Eucharistic Minister. Beyond campus, she reads at weeknight masses in her parish, volunteers annually at German Fest, and serves at the Crowley hospital, assisting with community initiatives such as Doctors’ Appreciation and Breast Cancer Awareness. Her dedication reflects a student who leads with humility and lives her faith in action.
Randy Schexnayder was honored as Teacher of the Year in recognition of his lifelong commitment to education and his unwavering investment in students. As Head of the Math Department, Schexnayder is known for setting high expectations while providing steady support to help every student succeed. He also serves as a mentor and resource for fellow faculty members.
With more than four decades in education, Schexnayder has served as a teacher, coach, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent in Vermilion Parish before returning to the classroom. His distinguished career includes being named Louisiana State Secondary Principal of the Year and receiving the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s College of Education. He has taught at Notre Dame since 2020.
Kellie Duhon was recognized as Supporter of the Year for her leadership, generosity, and dedication to the school’s mission. A former Notre Dame student, spouse of an alumnus, and parent of a graduate and current junior, Duhon has served on the Advisory Council for two years, including as president, and has been instrumental in the school’s ongoing strategic planning efforts.
As Chair of the Facilities Committee, she has helped guide campus improvements and long-term planning, while also supporting major fundraising efforts, including ReProm 2024. Professionally, Duhon serves as Corporate Giving Program Officer for Louisiana Blue, bringing nearly two decades of experience in philanthropy and community engagement. She also helped launch Million Meals for MLK, a statewide initiative that she helped bring to the Notre Dame community. Through this initiative, students were part of a meal-packing party that produced over 38,000 meals to help our neighbors in need.
Notre Dame High School congratulates Mia Hoffpauir, Randy Schexnayder, and Kellie Duhon and thanks them for their leadership, service, and dedication to faith and excellence.
Notre Dame High School Issues Request for Proposals for Master Facilities Plan
Notre Dame High School has officially issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) as the next step in its ongoing strategic planning process. Over the past year, school leaders, families, alumni, and community members have collaborated to identify key priorities that will guide Notre Dame’s future. Among those priorities, enhancing and optimizing campus facilities emerged as a central focus.
To move this work forward, Notre Dame is seeking a qualified architectural and planning partner to develop a comprehensive Master Facilities Plan. This plan will evaluate current facilities, identify long-term needs, and outline a vision that supports the school’s mission and the educational experience of future generations.
The school will utilize a sealed proposal process. Interested firms may request the full RFP, including project scope, requirements, and key dates by contacting the Office of Advancement, klink@ndpios.com.
Notre Dame looks forward to partnering with experts who can help shape a vibrant, future-ready campus for students, families, and the greater community.
ND Announces 2025 Homecoming Court

Notre Dame High School is proud to announce the members of the 2025 Homecoming Court! These outstanding students have demonstrated leadership, school spirit, and dedication throughout the years, and we are thrilled to honor them during this year’s homecoming celebrations.
The 2025 Homecoming Court includes:
Mary Claire Braham
Valerie Brown
Alice-Ann Dorr
Noelle Dorr
Riley Helo
Gillian Hensgens
Mia Hoffpauir
Anna Hunt
Ava Istre
Haleigh Melancon
Amelia Prevost
Mary Ellen Trahan
Ava Yates
Please join us in congratulating these students as they represent Notre Dame High School during Homecoming 2025! Learn more about Homecoming activities and make plans to join us!
ND Students Shine at Louisiana Youth Seminar

This summer, Ava Istre and Jonah Blake joined 275 of Louisiana’s top high school leaders at Louisiana Youth Seminar (LYS) #55 at LSU. The weeklong program develops leadership skills through workshops, team-building exercises, motivational speakers, and real-world problem-solving.
Jonah, a three-year LYS veteran, reflected on the experience, “The best part by far has to be the people you meet there. LYS puts you in situations where you have to lead and make friends. I even won Group of the Week and Outstanding Group Member last summer! I never heard anyone finish the week and say they regretted it.”
Ava, attending for the first time, described how the program impacted her personally. “LYS opened my eyes to school spirit and living life with an open mind and heart. I learned how to communicate effectively and be a true leader. One phrase that stood out was, ‘You deserve what you tolerate.’ LYS makes everyone feel included, respected, and valued. I would have never known about LYS without Notre Dame, and I will never regret going. I encourage everyone to experience it for themselves!”
This year’s seminar also featured the Life Achievement Award presentation to LSU Women’s Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey, whose inspiring keynote left a lasting impression on all attendees.
We are proud of Ava and Jonah for representing Notre Dame and bringing their leadership experiences back to our campus. LYS fosters personal growth, leadership skills, and a supportive community of young leaders—and these Pioneers exemplified it beautifully.
ND Announces Back to School Dates

Crowley - Notre Dame High School is eager to welcome students, staff and families for the 2025-26 school year. The summer months have been busy with planning, preparation and maintenance in anticipation of the coming year.
The school will host orientation for incoming freshmen on Thursday, July 31, from 9am until 11am. Freshman students can find information sent through email, including registration and tshirt orders.
Faculty and staff will prepare for the year with professional development, as well as an opening retreat, during the first week of August.
August will be a busy month for the Pioneers as they head back to the classroom.
- August 7 - First Day for seniors and freshmen; 11:30 am dismissal
- August 8 - First Day for juniors and sophomores; 11:30 am dismissal
- August 8 - Senior portraits
- August 11 - First full day for all students
- August 15 - Opening Mass, Feast of the Assumption
- August 16 - Back to School Dance
- August 20 - Back to School Night for Parents
- August 22 - Senior Retreat
Information about these and other events can be found on the school's website at ndpios.com.
The mission of Notre Dame High School is to educate its students in mind, body and soul with the love of Jesus, the discipline of Joseph and the faith of Mary.