Layla Garner is a graduate of Ruston High School, where she
maintained a 4.35 GPA. While at RHS, she was dually enrolled at LATECH, earning college credits while still in high school. She plans to continue her collegiate journey at Tulane University, where she will pursue a career in medicine. In addition to receiving the Wisdom Strength and Endurance Scholarship, Layla has been awarded the Distinguished Scholars Award and the LA congressional scholarship. She defines resilience as “the ability to
rise after repeated setbacks”.
Mackenzie Becks is a distinguished graduate of Lincoln Preparatory School, where she earned an impressive 4.5 GPA. She demonstrated outstanding leadership and service as Cheer Captain, a member of her church choir, a community mentor, and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. While excelling academically, she also worked as a Referral Coordinator at Mercy Medical Center beginning in 2024. One of Mackenzie’s greatest challenges was “learning to lead with integrity and purpose even when no one was watching,” a lesson that strengthened her character and leadership abilities. She also “overcame her fear of failure to become a dependable advocate for those whose voices are often unheard.” This fall, Mackenzie will attend Grambling State University to continue her educational journey.